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California.  Dept.  of  Fish  and  Game. 
Biennial  Report  1918-1920. 


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California.  Dept.  of  Fish  and  Game, 
Biennial  Report  1918-1920. 


(bound  volume) 


C.2 


47X/ 


DATE  DUE 


T 


3-^1  California.  Dept.  of  Fish  and  Game, 
Biennial  Report  1918-1920. 


(bound  volume) 


c.2 


California  Resources  Agency  Library 

1416  9th  Street,  Room  117 

Sacramento,  California   95814 


CALIFams'lA  RESOURCES  AGENCY  LiBWr;Y 

Resources  Qvild'mfi,  Rconi  1  .7 

1416  -  9th  Street 

Sacramento,  Ca!ifor«Ja 

958T4 


7857 


STATE  OF  CALIFORNIA 


Fish  and  Game  Commission 


TWENTY-SIXTH  BIENNIAL  REPORT 


For  the  Years  1918-1920 


California   State   Printing   Office 

J.    M.    CREMIN,    superintendent 

Sacramento,    1921 


r857 


CONTENTS. 

Page 
FKOXriSPIECE -i 

I.KTTVAl    OK    TKANSMnTAL •"> 

IX     .MK.MOKIA.M 0 

TWENTY- SIXTH    r.IKXMAL    llErOTlT 7 

DEl'AKT.MKXTAL  AM)   DISTRICT   KEPOKTS IG 

Departnioiit  of  Flsliculturo 11'.  If.  Shehlcy  10 

Di'partniput   of  Cominoifial   I'ishories A".   B.   Scoficlil  54 

liiiri'au  of  Education.  I'uhlicity  anil  Research //.  C.  Enjaut  TO 

L(>;,'al   Department /*'•    />•    />i'^c  8") 

Wain-  I'ullufion.- A.  ^[.  Foirfirhl  88 

San  Francisco  District  Office -/.   i^-  Unnier  80 

Sacramento    District    Office flco.    'Scale  9.". 

Ix).s  Augcles  District  Office E.   Hcddcrli/  101 

APPENDIX lis 

Fish  Distribution   b.v  Counties 118 

California   Fresh  Fishery  Products 128 

Seizures  of  Fish.  Game  and  Illegally  Used  Fishing  Apparatus 135 

Lion    Bounties 13(5 

Violations  of  the  Fish  and  (Jamc  I>a\vs 137 

Hunters'   and   Anirlers'   License  Sales 140 

Financial     Statement 143 


IJ;  1  TKR  OF  IRANSMITTAL. 

San  Francisco,  California, 
July  ],  1920. 
To  His  h\rc(}lrnr!i  WiiJ.TAM  1).  Stkpitens, 

dorcnior  of  I  In    Shiff  of  Cdlifornin, 
SdcrdHioito,  ( 'dlifor)!  i<i. 

Sir:  In  aceordjince  with  section  382  of  the  Political  Code  of  the 
State  of  California  we  have  the  honor  to  submit  for  your  consideration 
the  twenty-sixtli  Iticnnial  report  of  the  Fish  and  Game  Commission. 
Herein  you  will  find  a  complete  record  of  the  activities  of  this  Com- 
mission, for  the  period  July  1,  1918,  to  June  30,  1920,  together  with 
the  financial  statement  covering  the  two  fiscal  years,  showing  the 
receipts  and  expenditures  for  the  biennial  period. 

The  intimate  details  concerning  the  work  of  the  different  depart- 
ments may  be  found  in  the  reports  of  the  several  heads  of  departments. 
We  commend  them  to  your  careful  perusal. 

There  has  been  no  change  in  the  membership  of  the  Commission  itself 
l)ut  a  change  was   nuide    in    its    Executive    Officer,   Mr.   Charles  A. 
Vogelsang  succeeding  Mr.  Carl  Westerfeld  to  this  important  office  on 
the  twenty-eighth  of  April,  1920. 
Respectfully  submitted. 

(Signed)      F.    M.    Xewbekt.   Prcsidtni. 
(Signed;     .M.  J.  Connell. 
(Signed)     E.  L.  BosQUi. 
Board  of  Fish  and  Game  Commissioners. 
By  CuAS.  A.  Vogelsang, 
Executive  Officer. 


IN    MEMORIAM. 

Romer    I.    Bassler,   Foreman    in   Charge    Klamath    Stations. 

(Died   191S.) 

Mr.  Bassler  entered  Hie  employ  of  the  Fish  aud  Game  Commission  iu 
lOOS  and  was  employed  as  a  fishculturist  and  as  an  employee  in  the  car 
mcsseneer  service  until  1015.  In  101.")  he  was  appointed  suporiutoudont  of 
I)istril)utiou  Car  No.  2,  and  served  in  that  capacity  until  the  spring  of  1918, 
when  his  health  broke  down,  owins  in  a  great  measure  to  the  arduous 
duties  of  his  position. 


Frank  Shebley,  Superintendent  Mount  Whitney  Hatchery. 
(Died  December  21,  lOlS.) 

-Mr.  Shebley  entered  the  service  of  the  Fish  and  Gam?  Commission  in  1S04 
aud  was  employed  as  fish  oulturist  for  several  years  at  the  Tahoe  and  Mount 
Shasta  hatcheries.  In  1S08,  he  was  made  superintendent  of  the  Efl  lliver 
Hatchei-y.  In  100.5,  he  accepted  a  position  as  fishculturist  for  the  county 
of  Santa  Cruz  and  established  the  Brookdale  Hatchery,  which  he  operated 
until  1012,  when  the  property  was  turned  over  to  the  State  Fish  aud  Game 
Commission  under  a  lease.  He  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  new 
Mount  Whitney  Hatchery  in  1917,  and  investigated  the  lakes  aud  streams 
of  the  southern  Sierras. 


O.   H.    Richling,   Cashier. 

(Died  November  0,  1010.) 

^Ir.  Richling  was  appointed  a  special  deputy  October  24,  1903,  in  Amador 
Count.y.  On  account  of  excellent  work  he  was  given  a  regular  aiiix)intment 
on  ]March  24,  lOOS,  iu  the  Sau  Francisco  office.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
held   I  he  very  responsible  position  of  ca.shier. 


Frank    Clessens,    Assistant    Mount    Shasta    Hatchery. 

(Died  November,  1010.) 

yir.  Clessens  entered  the  service  of  the  Fish  and  Game  Commission  iu 
lOO:].  and  was  employed  as  carpenter  and  assistant  in  general  work  at  the 
Mount  Shasta  Hatchery  from  that  date  until  his  death.  His  services  were 
marked  by  the  highest  degree  of  loyalty  and  dependability.  He  was  always 
faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  and  was  on  hand  nt  any  hour  of  the 
night  to  see  that  everything  was  running  properly. 


Chester  A.   Scroggs,    Deputy    Fish   and   Game   Commissioner. 
(Died  January  22,  1920.) 

Mr.  Scroggs  was  first  appointed  .Tune  19,  1908,  with  headquarters  at 
Ix)omis,  Placer  County.  He  was  a  fearless  officer  and  made  a  most  excellent 
record  during  his  twelve  years  of  service. 


Forest    Nesbitt,    Deputy    Fish   and    Game    Commissioner. 
(l>ied  March  5,  1920.) 

Mr.  Nesbitt  was  the  son  of  Sheriff  Nesbitt,  who  has  been  reelected  many 
times  in  Monterey  County.  He  was  in  the  service  less  than  three  years, 
but  during  that  time  his  devotion  to  his  work  made  him  a  thoroughly 
efficient   officer.. 


TWENTY-SIXTH  BIENNIAL  REPORT. 

The  following  review  of  the  work  of  the  Kisli  and  Game  f'oinniission 
during  the  past  biennial  period  shows  that  it  has  been  one  of  constantly 
widening  range  in  its  activities,  of  increased  results  witli  respect  to 
hatchery  output  and  iinprovenuMits,  nf  higlio-  scientific  achievement 
by  our  r<>niiiicrcial  FisluM"ics  l)c|»;iftiiiciit,  ;iii(l  a  closer  enforcement 
of  the  fish  ami  name  laws  by  our  pati'ol   i'orce. 

Witli  (lui-  increasing  population,  wliiili  includes  a  considerable  alien 
elemeiil,  and  the  almost  universal  use  ol"  the  automobile,  oui-  respon- 
sibilities have  been  vastly  increased. 

]\rost  of  the  alien  class  arrive  here  with  but  little  regard  for  con- 
servation laws,  the  result  being  that  they  are  the  chiefest  offenders 
to  engage  the  attention  of  our  patrol  force.  The  use  of  the  automobile 
has  given  easy  opportunity  to  hundreds  of  thousands  to  reach  the 
habitat  of  fish  and  game  at  any  hour  of  the  day  or  night,  which  renders 
detection  of  violation  much  more  difficult. 

We  believe  there  is  no  force  of  employees  in  any  department  of  the 
state  who  have  shown  more  loyalty  and  faithfulness  to  their  respective 
tasks  than  can  be  found  in  the  employees  serving  under  this  Com- 
mission, regardless  of  the  department  in  which  they  are  employed. 

This  Commission  was  fully  and  creditably  represented  in  the  great 
war.  Happily  every  man  who  was  privileged  to  go.  returned  safely 
and  found  his  position  open  for  him.  Those  who.  from  various  causes, 
were  unable  to  contribute  their  services  to  their  country,  bore  heavy 
burdens  uncomplainingly  at  liome.  This  is  the  more  remarkable 
when  it  is  remembered  that  in  all  the  industries  and  every  transpor- 
tation line  compensation  had  been  almost  doubled.  Our  employees 
7'emained'  faithful  to  their  woi'k.  with  but  an  insignificant  salary 
advance  compared  with  the  much  greater  cost  of  living.  This  Com- 
mission has  therefore  reason  to  feel  proud  of  its  loyal  and  devoted 
workers. 

A  special  page  is  devoted  to  the  list  of  those  of  our  force  wlio  died 
in  our  ser.vice  during  the  past  two  years. 

Our  Department  of  Fish  culture  has  at  its  head  ^Ir.  W.  H.  Shebley, 
who  has  been  identified  with  the  fishcultnral  work  of  iho  California 
Fi.sh  and  Game  Commission  for  upwards  of  tliirty  years,  and  who  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest  and  most  successful  fishculturists  in  the 
United  States.  Combined  with  his  practical  judgment,  Mr.  Shebley 
unites  the  results  of  his  many  years  of  experience  and  study  of  the 
scientific  side  of  all  questions  relating  to  fishculture.  with  special  ref- 
erence to  salmon  and  trout  propagation,  and  has  furnished  a  report  on 
the  details  of  his  work  that  is  worthy  of  careful  consideration, 


8  REPORT    OF   THE   FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 

During  the  past  biennial  period  sixteen  hatcheries  and  six  egg- 
collecting  stations  have  been  in  operation.  From  them  a  total  of 
34,000,000  trout  fry  have  been  reared  and  distributed — the  greatest 
number  in  the  histor}-  of  the  Commission  in  a  like  period.  In  addition 
to  the  trout  distribution  a  total  of  approximately  29,000,000  Chinook 
salmon  were  reared  and  distributed  in  suitable  places  in  the  Sacra- 
mento, Eel  and  Klamath  rivers. 

The  outstanding  feature  in  the  work  of  this  department  has  been 
a  greatly  improved  system  of  fish  distribution,  increase  in  the  number  of 
and  expansion  of  our  pond  system,  for  rearing  both  trout  and  salmon, 
and  the  successful  propagation  and  distribution  of  the  golden  trout, 
considered  to  be  the  most  beautiful  of  the  trouts  of  the  world. 

Special  attention  is  called  to  the  color  plate  of  a  Loch  Leven  trout, 
on  our  report  cover.  This  hardy,  gamey  fish  hails  from  the  lakes  of 
Scotland.  He  has  found  a  most  congenial  habitat  in  all  of  the  colder 
waters  of  this  state,  either  stream  or  lake.  There  is  no  more  valiant 
fighter  in  the  trout  family,  nor  one  whose  food  qualities  are  superior. 
We  have  distributed  upwards  of  four  million  Loch  Leven  fry  in  suitable 
waters  during  the  past  biennial  period,  and  desire  that  our  people 
become  better  acquainted  with  and  more  appreciative  of  his  sterling 
qualities. 

Practically  all  of  our  hatchery  stations  are  now  provided  with  Ford 
auto  trucks,  which  are  utilized  in  re-stocking  streams  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  hatcheries  or  in  other  points  remote  from  rail  facilities.  By 
this  method  the  fish  can  quickly  be  taken  to  the  streams  and  properly 
planted  by  trained  men.  Crews  on  our  fish-distribution  cars  have  been 
increased  in  order  that  we  may  use  trained  men  to  accompany  the 
larger  consignments  from  the  railroad  station  to  the  waters  that  are 
to  be  stocked,  thereby  assuring  successful  transportation  and  proper 
distribution  of  the  young  fish. 

A  handsome  new  hatchery  building,  with  four  times  the  capacity 
of  the  old  one  that  has  done  duty  for  about  thirty  years,  has  been 
completed  on  Lake  Talioe  near  Tahoe  City,  and  will  be  ready  for 
next  season's  operations.  It  is  located  about  one  mile  north  of  the 
old  hatchery,  where  an  abundant  supply  of  water  sufficient  to  main- 
tain it  at  full  capacity  can  bo  had  during  the  entire  hatching  season. 
Some  necessary  work  upon  the  grounds  and  ponds  for  fish  displays 
and  a  superintendent's  cottage  will  be  built  in  the  spring  and  summer 
of  1921. 

Another  entirely  new  hatchery  site  has  been  selected  on  the  Kaweah 
River,  in  Tulare  County.  Plans  for  the  building  are  under  way,  which, 
when  completed,  will  be  an  important  link  in  our  chain  of  hatcheries, 
enabling  us  to  stock  waters  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Sierras  to 


REPORT    OP    THE    FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION.  9 

^renter  ;i(lv;nita^:('  tli;m  is  possililc  fi'Din  citlici-  llir  Mount  Shasta  or 
."Mount  Wliitiiry  liatclit'i-ics.  'I'liis  hatchery  is  (■xix'ctcd  lo  Ix'  in  full 
opofation  fof  ihi'  lort  hcoininu-  ti'oiit  season.  'I'he  watei-  fi^'hts  have  been 
secured,  th?  supply  unaranlei d,  and  il  has  been  thoron<,dily  tested  by 
the  suceessful  operation  I'oi-  the  past  two  seasons  of  an  experimental 
hatcliery  under  eanvas. 

Extensive  repairs  wliieh  had  been  neiilected  at  the  Mount  Sha.sta 
and  Fall  (Veek  hateheries,  due  to  wai-  conditions,  are  now  under  way. 
The  eoming  season  will  find  these  hatcheries  fully  equipped  in  all 
respects. 

MOUNT    WHITNEY    HATCHERY. 

Inipi'ovenient  wci'k  has  steadily  j^-one  on  at  the  magnificent  ]Mount 
Whitney  hatchery  in  hiyo  County.  The  grounds  and  approaches 
have  been  improved  to  match  its  general  scheme. 

Among  the  other  five  and  one-half  millions  of  trout  hatched  and  dis- 
tributed from  the  IMount  Whitney  Hatchery  were  300,000  golden  trout 
during  the  past  season,  which  were  distributed  under  the  direct  .super- 
vision of  Commissioner  Connell,  into  barren  lakes  and  streams  in  the 
southern  Sierras.  The  location  and  water  supply  of  this  hatchery  have 
amply  justified  its  selection  as  an  ideal  hatching  and  reai'ing  place  for 
the  rare  and  dainty  trout  of  our  southern  Sierra,  found  in  no  other  part 
of  the  world,  the  golden  trout. 

FISHWAYS  AND   SCREENS. 

Although  the  building  of  fishways  has  been  retarded  by  the  drought 
of  the  past  three  years,  in  spite  of  it,  remarkable  progress  has  been 
made.  Surveys  were  made  of  82  new  fishways,  practically  all  of  which 
have  been  constructed,  the  most  important  of  them  being  the  one  located 
on  the  American  River,  at  the  Folsom  dam.  The  surveys,  plans  and  the 
construction  of  these  ladders  have  been  made  under  the  constant  super- 
vision of  deputy  A.  E.  Doney,  who  has  specialized  in  this  work  for  more 
than  fifteen  years. 

Surveys  and  leual  notices  to  install  screens  to  prevent  the  loss  of 
young  fish  through  irrigation  canals  and  power  wheels,  have  been  made, 
on  171  streams,  ditches  and  canals,  practically  all  of  them  now  working 
efifi(  iently.  This  important  woi-k  is  under  the  supervision  of  INIr.  A.  E. 
Culver  as  screen  inspector.  In  most  cases  our  requests  have  been  met 
with  ready  compliance.  In  fact,  there  has  never  been  a  time  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  state  when  the  conservation  of  our  fish  1),\-  installation  of 
screens  and  fishways  has  been  needed  more,  owing  to  the  constantly 
increasing  amount  of  watei-  that  is  being  diverted  for  agricultural  and 
industrial  Durnoses. 


10 


FfEPORT   OF   Tin;    FISIT    AND    GAME   COMMISSION. 


REPORT    OP    THE    PISH    AND    GAMK    COMMISSION.  11 

COMMERCIAL   FISHERIES. 

Tliis  department  is  under  the  immediate  direction  of  Mr.  N.  B.  Seo- 
field,  a  trained  scientist  wlio  has  devoted  twenty  years  to  the  service  of 
the  state  in  the  study,  development  and  control  of  the  commercial  food 
fish  industries.  lie  is  assisted  by  a  thoroughly  organized  and  efficient 
office  and  patrol  force,  and  also  by  a  corps  of  able  scientific  investiga- 
tors headed  by  Mr.  W.  F.  Thompson.  Highly  important  discoveries 
have  been  made  and  valuable  papers  furnished,  all  tending  to  make  of 
this  department  one  of  the  most  important  maintained  in  this  class  of 
of  work  by  any  state  or  country. 

Mr.  Scofield's  contribution  to  our  report  is  a  valuable  document. 
"We  draw  particular  attention  to  that  portion  of  it  referring  to  the 
operations  of  the  canneries  along  our  coast,  with  special  reference  to 
the  vexatious  problems  of  fertilizer  plants. 

To  assist  in  furtlier  development  of  this  work  and  to  preserve  the 
valuable  records  and  the  statistical  data  already  secured  we  have,  with 
the  approval  of  your  Board  of  Control,  set  aside  $25,000  for  the  con- 
struction of  a  fisheries  laboratory  to  be  located  at  San  Pedro,  adjacent 
to  the  large  fish  canning  establishments. 

With  commendable  foresight  the  city  of  Los  Angeles  granted  free  of 
cost  a  splendid  building  site  for  a  period  of  thirty  years,  with  the 
privilege  of  renewal  for  a  like  period  on  the  same  terms.  Plans  are  now 
being  drawn  and  we  hope  that  this  valuable  addition  to  our  scientific 
work  will  soon  be  an  accomplished  fact  and  performing,  under  more 
favorable  conditions,  still  greater  work  than  has  been  accomplished  in 

the  past. 

MOUNTAIN    LION    BOUNTIES. 

The  increasing  number  of  does  and  fawns  that  can  be  seen  in  a  day's 
journey  through  the  deer  country,  and  which  are  being  continually  re- 
ported by  hunters  and  those  living  in  the  mountains,  is  conclusive  evi- 
dence of  the  wisdom  of  continuing  to  pay  a  bounty  to  encourage  the 
killing  of  these  marauders,  who  not  only  prey  upon  deer  of  all  ages,  but 
upon  the  farmers'  livestock.  He  seems  to  have  a  fondness  for  colts, 
calves,  sheep  or  goats.  This  has  been  confirmed  many  times  although 
the  presence  of  deer  meat  in  the  stomach  contents  strongly  indicates 
his  preference. 

The  Commission  began  to  pay  the  bounty  in  November,  1908,  and  has 
to  this  time  paid  for  the  pelts  and  scalps  of  3170  lions,  all  of  which 
were  sent  to  this  office  accompanied  by  the  applicant's  sworn  statement 
showing  where  the  animal  was  killed  and  by  whom,  and  further  sup- 
ported by  the  signatures  of  two  witnesses.  In  addition,  the  claim  must 
be  accompanied  by  an  account  of  the  pursuit  and  killing,  together  with 


12  REPORT   OF   THE   PISH    AND    GAME   COMMISSION. 

such  Other  evidence  as  is  acceptable  to  us  to  justify  presenting  the  claim 
to  the  Board  of  Control  for  approval. 

There  was  a  steady  decrease  from  year  to  year  in  the  number  of 
pelts  received  and  claims  presented,  until  a  specially  trained  hunter 
was  employed.  The  largest  number  taken  in  any  one  calendar  year 
was  482  in  1908.  For  the  calendar  year  1918,  243  bounty  claims  were 
paid,  and  for  the  calendar  year  1919,  214  were  paid.  It  was  decided  in 
1917  to  increase  the  bounty  to  $30  for  the  pelt  of  the  female  lion  as  a 
further  inducement  to  those  living  in  the  mountain  lion  country  to  hunt 
them,  as  it  requires  trained  dogs,  as  well  as  much  patience  and  hard 
rough  work,  to  locate  and  finally  tree  them. 

As  the  game  refuges  increased  in  number  and  shooting  not  being 
permitted  there,  nor  in  the  National  Parks,  the  lions  seemed  to  avail 
themselves  of  those  shelters.  The  Commission  in  1918  decided  to  adopt 
further  measures  and  engaged  the  services  of  Mr.  Jay  C.  Bruce,  an 
experienced  mountaineer  and  lion  hunter,  the  possessor  of  highly 
trained  dogs,  to  take  up  the  work  as  a  regular  deputy  and  devote  his 
time  especially  to  the  refuges  and  parks,  but  also  to  respond  to  the  call 
from  any  section  where  lions  were  reported  as  doing  damage. 

The  increased  results  have  fully  justified  his  employment,  as  in  ad- 
dition to  the  lions,  he  destroys  all  other  predatory  animals  destructive 
to  game. 

A  page  showing  the  total  number  of  lions  killed  to  January  1,  1920, 
by  counties,  and  for  which  the  bounty  has  been  paid,  will  be  found  in 
the  appendix. 

ARRESTS  AND  FINES. 

The  w^ork  of  our  patrol  force  is  best  shown  by  the  official  record  of 
its  accomplishments,  which  clearly  indicates  that  the  work  has  been 
thorough  and  far  reaching;  that  it  covers  every  class  of  offense  relating 
to  the  fish  and  game  laws,  and  that  it  has  reached  into  ever}^  corner  of 
the  State.  This  statement  is  based  upon  the  detailed  history,  shown  in 
our  book  of  arrests  and  fines,  of  each  case  made. 

Tlie  number  of  arrests  and  amount  of  fines  assessed  upon  oft'enders 
during  the  biennial  period  is  the  greatest  in  tlie  history  of  the  Commis- 
sion, totaling  1891  arrests  and  $49,426  in  fines. 

We  do  not  claim  that  all  violators  of  the  fish  and  game  laws  have 
been  apprehended.  The  opportunities  afforded  through  the  now  general 
use  of  the  automobile  renders  detection  and  capture  more  difficult.  Our 
force  is  placed  at  the  same  disadvantage  thereby  as  our  city  and 
county  officers  charged  with  the  enforcement  of  other  sections  of  the 
Penal  Code,  but  we  do  confidently  claim  that  no  other  body  of  officers, 
city,  county  or  state,  can  show  a  cleaner  record  or  a  higher  state  of 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION.  13 

efficiency.  Their  work  is  not  measured  by  certain  hours  of  the  day  or 
night,  but  at  all  hours,  in  any  weather,  stormy  or  sunny,  on  the  water 
or  in  the  field,  or  as  conditions  seem  favorable  to  the  law  breaker. 

We  do  recognize,  however,  a  marked  improvement  in  general  public 
sentiment  towards  the  enforcement  of  the  fish  and  game  laws.  Con- 
victions by  juries  are  no  longer  the  exception.  The  attitude  of 
magistrates  particularly  in  the  interior  of  the  state,  is  reflected  by  the 
imposition  of  deterrent  penalties. 

Another  hopeful  sign  is  the  courtesy  shown,  and  assistance  extended, 
to  our  deputies  throughout  the  state  while  in  the  discharge  of  their 
duties. 

THE    UNITED   STATES    FOREST   SERVICE. 

At  this  time,  we  desire  to  speak  of  the  valuable  assistance  rendered 
by  the  men  of  the  United  States  Forest  Service.  Supervisor  and  ranger 
alike  have  been  of  great  assistance  in  this  work.  They  have  assisted  our 
deputies  to  the  limit  when  necessary  and  many  important  cases  were 
unknown  to  us  until  the  court  records  came  in,  showing  that  the  arrest- 
ing officers  were  members  of  the  Forest  Service.  They  have  taken  a 
conspicuous  part  in  the  arduous  work  of  distributing  young  trout  in 
remote  waters. 

They  have  also  kept  a  watchful  eye  and  reported  on  the  conditions  of 
the  streams  as  related  to  fishways  and  screens.  Their  intelligent  coopera- 
tion is  deserving  of  your  unqualified  approval. 

EDUCATION   AND   PUBLICITY. 

We  believe  that  nothing  will  develop  public  sentiment  in  favor  of 
fi.sh  and  game  conservation  more  quickly  and  thoroughly  than  a  prop- 
erly conducted  campaign  of  education  and  publicity.  Your  attention 
is  invited  to  the  report  of  our  Bureau  of  Education,  Publicity  and 
Research,  under  the  innnediate  supervision  of  Dr.  H.  C.  Bryant.  A 
perusal  of  this  report  will  indicate  how  wide  a  field  has  been  covered  by 
tliis  liiifcaii  ill  |u-(>aching  the  gospel  of  conservation.  Tt  has  reached  uni- 
versities and  colleges,  normal  schools,  high  schools,  grammar  schools, 
parents  and  teachers'  associations,  boy  scout  camps  and  other  vacation 
camps  and  mountain  resorts  of  the  state.  The  lectures  are  accom- 
panied by  motion  picture  films  of  wild  life  showing  the  home  life  of 
game  birds  and  mammals,  and  also  one  reel  showing  our  hatchery 
operations. 

In  addition,  this  bureau  is  charged  with  the  responsibility  of  editing 
and  issuing  our  quarterly  bulletin,  "California  Fish  and  Game/' 
which  was  first  issued  in  October,  191-1,  and  judging  by  the  frequent 
letters  of  approval  coming  to  this  office,  has  steadily  grown  in  public 
estimation. 


14  REPORT   OF   THE   PISII   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 

It  is  becoming  more  and  more  apparent  that  the  tremendous  drain 
upon  our  trout  streams,  due  to  the  facilities  of  approach  by  rail 
and  especially  ])y  automobile,  justifies  us  in  urging  that  the  trout 
season  be  shortened  at  least  one  month  throughout  every  district, 
that  the  young  fish  planted  each  year  may  be  given  an  opportunity  to 
reach  a  sportsman's  size  and  permit  seed  enough  to  remain  to  insure, 
if  possible,  reproduction  of  species. 

We  are  also  reminded  by  many  sportsmen  that  owing  to  the  unecpal 
distribution  of  the  deer  in  the  state  and  the  consequent  stronger 
attack  on  those  sections  of  the  state  where  deer  are  still  numerous,  that 
the  limit  should  be  reduced  to  one  buck  per  year.  Whether  such  reduc- 
tion shall  be  made  at  the  forthcoming  session  of  the  Legislature  is  an 
open  question,  but  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  it  must  soon  come. 

We  would  favor  some  slight  changes  in  the  existing  deer  law  with 
respect  to  season,  the  evidence  of  which  comes  from  those  resident  in 
the  respective  sections  where  deer  are  found  and  whose  judgment  and 
experience  should,  therefore,  not  be  disregarded. 

We  receive  suggestions  of  many  sorts  from  different  sections  of  the 
state  proposing  changes  in  the  fish  and  game  laws.  Some  are  entirely 
of  a  selfish  nature  and  would  not  treat  with  fairness,  the  neighboring 
localities.    We  desire  to  be  fair  to  all. 

It  is  our  endeavor  to  conserve  the  supply  of  fish  and  game  of  this 
state  for  all  of  its  people  rather  than  to  yield  to  the  pressure  of  the 
few  in  one  section  to  the  detriment  of  those  in  adjoining  sections. 

We  aim  to  cooperate  with  each  county  to  the  fullest  extent  and  give 
careful  consideration  to  their  requests  and  to  smooth  out  differences 
that  are  more  apparent  than  real.  We  acknowledge  our  obligation 
to  county  officials  of  every  class.  Their  support  has  been  both  cordial 
and  helpful.  In  fact,  we  recognize  a  decided  gain  with  respect  to  the 
general  sentiment  of  the  people  regarding  the  observance  of  all 
conservation  measures  pertaining  to  fish  and  game. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 

To  many  departments  of  the  state  do  we  acknowledge  our  indebted- 
ness for  courteous  assistance  and  cooperation. 

To  the  officials  and  subordinates  of  the  American  Express  Company, 
the  Lake  Tahoe  Railway  and  Transportation  Company,  the  San  Fran- 
cisco and  Sacramento  Railway,  the  Yosemite  Valley  Railroad  Company, 
the  Sacramento  Northern  Railroad  Company,  we  extend  our  thanks 
for  valuable  assistance. 

To  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Fisheries  and  assistants  we  acknowl- 
edge our  appreciation  for  hearty  cooperation  and  assistance  in  salmon 
culture. 


REPORT   OF   THE    FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION.  15 

To  the  United  States  Forest  Service  I'or  ils  valii.ililc  .lid  in  \ho.  en- 
forcement  oi"   the   fish    and    liaiiic   laws  and    lilx'i'al   cooperation    in    fisH^ 
(list  fihidion. 

We    gratt'l'Mlly    acknn\v]c(I<^-('    onr    ohli^^-af  ion    to    tlir    I'niversity  ■ 'p-.^- 
California   antl    to    Ldand    Staid'oi-d    .liinior    I'liiversity    for    helpful 
assistanee  in  investigations  and  in  tlic  sohition  of  difficult  problems. 

And  especially  do  wc  wish  to  cxpi'css  onr  appreciation  to  the  thou- 
sands of  sportsmen,  huntrrs  and  anglers  alike,  who  are  tihe  main  stay 
of  this  organization  in  a  (inaiicial  sense,  and  who  have  by  friendly 
ath'icc  and  cooperation  a.ssisted  in  cari-ying  on  this  yreat  work  to  its 
present  fu'^h  standing  ainon;:'  the  Kish  and  (Janie  Conunissions  of  the 
I'nited  States. 


2—7857 


16 


REPORT   OF   THE   FigH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 


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REPORT  OF  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  FISHCULTURE 

The  Honorable  Board  of  Fish  and  Game  Commissioners  of  the  State 
of  California. 

Sirs  :  We  take  pleasure  in  submitting  for  3'our  consideration  a  report 
of  the  operations  of  your  Department  of  Fisheulture  for  the  biennial 
period  July  1,  1918,  to  June  30,  1920. 

In  previous  reports  submitted  to  your  Honorable  Board,  this  depart- 
ment has  called  attention  to  the  growing  demand  for  trout  fry  for  stock- 
ing the  streams  and  lakes  of  the  state,  due  to  the  ever  increasing  num- 
ber of  anglers  seeking  recreation  in  every  section  where  the  sport  of 
angling  is  povssible. 

With  the  advent  of  the  automobile  and  the  good  roads  movement,  the 
way  has  been  opened,  for  one  so  inclined,  to  go  in  a  few  hours  with 
the  greatest  ease  from  the  v'ery  heart  of  our  most  closely  settled  com- 
munities into  the  utmost  reces.ses  of  our  mountain  fastnesses.  And  the 
city  dwellers  have  gone  in  a  never-ending  procession,  literally  by  the 
tens  of  thousands,  from  the  opening  day  in  the  spring  to  the  closing 
of  the  fishing  season  on  the  approach  of  winter. 

Sections  of  the  state,  in  the  most  remote  recesses  of  the  high  Sierras, 
which  but  a  few  years  ago  could  be  reached  only  by  pack  trains  with 
the  assistance  of  hardy  mountain  guides  and  days  and  often  weeks  of 
travel,  are  now  reached  in  hut  a  few  hours  from  the  main  centers  of 
population,  by  automobiles,  over  some  of  the  finest  highways  in  the 
world.  There  can  be  but  one  result  from  such  a  condition  of  affairs 
and  that  is  the  practical  destruction  of  fishing  in  the  majority  of  the 
waters  of  the  state,  unless  the  most  stupendous  efforts  are  put  forth, 
and  at  once,  to  conserve  our  game  fishery  resources  and  to  increase 
the  extent  of  the  operations  of  this  department.  Every  effort  has  been 
made  within  the  past  four  years  to  keep  pace  with  the  demands  of  the 
situation,  but  war  and  post-war  conditions  have  seriously  handicapped 
us  in  accomplishing  our  objective.  During  the  war  period  it  was  impos- 
sible to  attempt  any  construction  and  improvement  work  on  account  of 
scarcity  of  labor  and  materials,  therefore,  it  wa,s  not  until  the  spring 
of  1919  that  we  were  enabled  to  proceed  with  our  plans  for  constructing 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND    GAME   COMMISSION.  17 

new  hatcheries  and  egjjj  collecting  stations  and  ciilai-j^ing  and  modern- 
izing our  older  plants,  i)ropcM'ly  fitting  them  with  egg  collecting  equip- 
ment and  providing  suitable  (juarters  and  accommodations  for  the 
men  engaged  in  carrying  on  the  work.  We  now  feel  that  we  are 
equipped  to  handle  the  situation  in  the  future  to  far  better  advantage 
than  we  have  been  able  to  during  the  i)ast  two  years. 

There  are  now  in  operation  sixteen  hatcheries,  the  nuijority  ol'  whicli 
are  also  equipped  to  carry  on  e^iig  collecting  operations,  and  in  addition 
thereto,  six  egg  collecting  stations.  AVitli  this  equipment  we  are  con- 
fident that  we  will  be  ai)le  to  keep  pace  with  the  demands  for  trout  fry. 

A  vast  improvement  has  l)e('n  tiijidi'  in  our  system  of  fish  distril)ution 
from  tlie  various  hatcheries  and  witli  tlie  fish  distributing  cars.  The 
more  inqiortant  of  our  hatcheries  are  now  provided  with  small  auto 
trucks,  which  in  addition  to  being  of  great  assistance  in  carrying  on 
all  regular  operations,  are  used  very  extensively  in  connection  with 
distributing  the  fry  in  the  localities  in  which  the  stations  are  located. 
The  fish  are  taken  out  during  the  proper  season,  a  few  cans  at  a  time, 
and  are  carefully  planted  by  our  own  men,  who  are  skilled  in  this 
line  of  work.  Local  sportsmen  and  i)rominent  citizens  of  the  various 
communities  are  cooperating  in  stocking  the  streams,  to  a  greater 
extent  than  in  previous  years,  for  the  people  generally  are  coming  to 
realize  the  importance  of  maintaining  the  fish  in  their  streams  as  an 
attraction  to  lure  the  people  into  the  healthful  recreations  of  the  wilds. 

The  crews  on  our  fisli  distribution  cars  have  been  increased  to  permit 
our  messengers  to  accompany  as  many  as  possible  of  the  larger  consign- 
ments of  fish  from  the  point  of  delivery  to  the  streams,  where  the 
transportation  and  planting  of  the  fish  is  at  all  difificult,  and  when  the 
applicants  are  inexperienced  in  fish  planting.  ]Many  of  them  are 
experienced  in  the  work  and  no  assistance  from  this  department  in  the 
actual  planting  work  is  necessary.  Many  of  the  deputy  fish  and  game 
wardens  are  also  cooperating  with  the  department  and  the  applicants, 
as  are  also  a  great  many  of  the  United  States  Forest  Service  Rangers 
who  have  had  experience  in  planting  fish.  The  result,  of  this  policy, 
and  new  system  of  trout  distribution,  is  that  a  far  greater  proportion 
of  the  fish  survive.  Then  too,  with  the  better  methods  of  planting  and 
the  ever  increasing  number  of  experienced  men  engaged  in  the  work, 
the  fish  are  better  "scattered"  and  receive  a  much  wider  distribution 
than  formerly. 

TROUT. 

For  the  biennial  period,  a  total  of  ;J-1,000,000  trout  fry  were  reared 
and  distributed  in  the  waters  of  California.  This  is  the  greatest  number 
of  trout  fry  ever  distributed  by  the  Couunission  in  a  like  period. 

Although  nuich  has  been  acconqilished  in  the  distribution  of  trout 
fry,  it  is  impossible  to  keep  the  streams  in  the  more  easily  accessible 


18 


REPORT   OP   THE   PISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 


regions  stockctl  to  llit-  satisuictioii  oi'  the  majority  of  the  anglers,  as 
the  open  season  is  too  long.  The  trout  fry  do  not  have  a  chance  to 
grow.  Fi-y  phuitcd  diiiiim  tlir  simniicr  and  early  fall  are  caught  the 
next  spring,  wIkh  they  are  not  over  four  or  five  inches  in  length.  The 
growing  season  in  tlie  Sierra  Nevada  taimc — wlicre  the  great  majority  of 
the  stocking  streams  and  lakes  are  situated — is  during  the  spring,  sum- 
mer and  fall.  Ti-out  do  not  make  much  of  a  growth  during  the  cold 
stormy  weather  of  nudwiuter.  To  give  the  trout  fry  a  chance  to  grow 
and  the  adult  fish  to  propagate,  the  season  sliould  be  shortened  at  least 


M'^^4k  -!    , 


Fig.    .j.      Sis.son    Lake,    one    of   the    three   large    salmon    rearing   ponds    at    the    Mount 
Shasta  Hatchery.      Photograph  by  Homer  Marston. 

one  month  in  the  spring  and  one  month  in  the  fall.  Five  months  out  of 
the  year  should  be  ample  time  for  the  anglers  to  enjoy  the  privilege 
of  taking  trout. 

There  are  streams  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  ^Mountains  in  which  there 
are  very  few  breeding  or  adult  fish  left.  The  anglers  fish  some  of  the 
easily  accessible  streams  until  the  only  fish  left  in  any  great  numbers 
are  the  fry  that  have  been  planted  the  season  before.  They  cannot 
take  all  of  the  large  fish  out  of  a  stream  and  expect  to  have  good  fish- 
ing. If  the  open  season  on  trout  is  shortened  to  five  months,  the 
results  will  be  apparent  in  several  ways.  The  number  of  fish  taken 
will  be  reduced.  The  fry  will  have  a  chance  to  grow  during  the  spring 
and  fall  when  there  is  an  abundance  of  natural  food,  and  the  adult 
fish  will  be  protected  during  the  breeding  season.  The  rainbow,  black- 
spotted  and  steelhead  species  spawn  in  the  spring,  and  the  Eastern 
brook.  Loch  Leven  and  German  brown  trout,  in  the  fall.     Thus  there 


REPORT    OP    THE    FI.SH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 


19 


will  be  an  increase  of  natural  propajration,  and  the  fry  from  the  natural 
propagation,  as  well  as  from  the  li.itchcries,  will  have  a  chance  to  live 
and  grow  to  a  larger  size.  And  the  anglers  w  ill  liavc  in  turn  a  better 
sized  fish  to  catch. 

CHINOOK  SALMON. 
The  propagation  of  Chinook  saliiKui  lias  engaged  the  attention  of 
this  dcpai-tinciit  as  in  foriin'r  years,  and  while  no  radical  change  in 
method  oi-  policy  has  been  made,  there  has  been  a  steady  improvement 
in  the  work.  The  policy  of  holding  and  feeding  a  large  number  of 
salmon    fry    in   the   big  salmon    rearing   j^onds   at   the   Mount   Shasta 


KlG.  4.  l-v.-l  Ki,  ;,  .1  ;,!.'  iii.iiith  i.f  I'.irt  Scwar,!  ('i.  .-U,  -Ii.iwjiil;  I:--  ■  \tremely  low 
water  level  on  February  2.3,  1920 — the  lowest  on  record.  Low  water  prevents  the  fish 
from   reaching  their  spawning  grounds.      Photograph   by  M.    K.    Spaulding. 

Hatchery  throughout  the  summer  months,  and  releasing  them  during 
the  fall  when  conditions  are  propitious  for  their  journey  to  the  sea,  has 
been  strictly  adhered  to. 

The  major  portion  of  our  Chinook  salmon  eggs  has,  as  in  years  past, 
been  received  from  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Fisheries'  stations  at 
^rill  Creek  and  Battle  Creek,  tributaries  of  the  Sacramento  River. 

All  rights  to  the  use  of  their  old  station  at  Klamathon  on  the  Klamath 
River,  in  Siskiyou  Count}',  were  secured  from  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries 
and  this  hatchery  has  been  operated  for  the  past  two  years.  The  first 
season  we  were  not  properly  prepared  to  conduct  operations  and  only 


20  REPORT   OF   THE   FISH    AND   GAME   COMMISSION, 

a  small  number  of  eggs  were  taken.  Last  fall  a  fine  take  of  eggs 
was  procured  and  the  number  received  would  have  been  much  greater 
had  it  not  been  for  the  drought,  which  extended  all  over  the  state 
and  materially  interfered  with  the  extent  of  our  egg  collecting 
operations.  A  portion  of  the  salmon  eggs  taken  at  Klamathon  Hatchery 
are  hatched  and  the  fry  reared  at  the  new  Fall  Creek  Hatchery.  Here 
a  large  number  of  the  ivy  are  held  in  ponds  during  the  summer  and 
released  in  the  Klamath  river  as  fingerlings  during  the  fall  months. 

A  total  of  approximately  29,000,000  Chinook  salmon  were  reared  and 
distributed  in  the  Sacramento,  Eel  and  Klamath  rivers  during  1918- 
1919. 

We  desire  to  call  particular  attention  to  the  salmon  run  in  the  Sacra- 
mento river.  It  is  threatened  witli  extermination  if  measures  are  not 
taken  in  the  immediate  future  to  increase  the  pond  rearing  system  on 
the  Sacramento  River.  Fully  80  per  cent  of  the  natural  spawning 
grounds  of  the  Sacramento  River  basin  have  been  destroyed  by  the 
mines,  and  dams  constructed  for  the  purpose  of  generating  electricity, 
and  by  the  diverting  of  water  for  irrigation  purposes. 

The  salmon  rearing  ponds  at  the  Mount  Shasta  Hatchery  will  soon  be 
inadequate  to  keep  up  the  supply,  and  if  the  Iron  Canyon  Project  is 
completed,  according  to  the  plan  of  the  promoters,  all  of  the  salmon  fry 
will  have  to  be  hatched  and  reared  below  Red  Blutf . 

The  run  has  been  broken  at  Redding  by  the  construction  of  the  dam 
diverting  the  water  into  the  canal  of  the  Anderson-Cottonwood  Irriga- 
tion District.  At  the  time  the  dam  was  built  during  1916-1917,  we 
had  an  understanding  with  the  engineer  in  charge  of  the  District, 
that  the  dam  was  not  to  be  raised  above  a  certain  level.  This  would 
allow  all  the  salmon  to  pass  the  dam  and  proceed  on  their  way  up  the 
McCloud  and  Pit  rivers.  -  Tliis  would  allow  natural  propagation  in  the 
Pit  River  and  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  could  collect  the  eggs  from  the 
salmon  that  entered  the  McCloud  River  at  Baird  Hatchery  and  hatch 
and  rear  them  as  in  former  years. 

In  spite  of  the  heavy  drain  on  the  fish  in  Monterey  Bay  and  else- 
where in  the  ocean  and  in  the  Sacramento  River,  the  salmon  culture 
operations,  as  carried  on  by  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  and  the  State  Fish 
and  Game  Commission,  kept  the  run  of  salmon  up  without  an  appreci- 
able decrease  until  the  last  two  or  three  years.  But  recently  the  large 
number  of  salmon  taken  in  Monterey  Bay,  the  fishing  areas  oif  the  coast 
of  Fort  Bragg,  and  the  fishing  in  the  lower  river,  combined  with  the 
number  speared  during  the  so  called  closed  season  on  the  upper  reaches 
of  the  river,  have  made  a  material  reduction  in  the  number  of  adult 
salmon  and  effective  measures  must  be  taken  without  delay  to  save  the 
salmon  that  are  the  output  of  the  Sacramento  River  system.  The  low 
water  in  the  river  caused  by  the  diversion  of  the  water  to  the  rice  fields, 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISU    AND    GAME   COMMISSION.  21 

and  its  contaminated  condition,  has  a  tendency  to  prevent  the  salmon 
from  passing  up  the  river.  Th(^  water  that  returns  from  the  rice 
fields  is  full  of  organic  matter  anil  the  gases  formed  by  the  decomposi- 
tion is  deleterious  to  all  fish  life.  In  our  opinion  a  careful  study  of  this 
condition  should  be  made  next  season  with  the  object  of  determining 
the  actual  facts. 

"We  respectfully  recommend  that  the  Legislature  stop  all  nuirket 
fishing  for  salmon  above  the  City  of  Sacramento  and  make  a  closed 
season  off  the  coast  of  Fort  Bragg  and  in  Monterey  Bay  so  that  at  least 
one-third  less  salmon  can  be  taken  during  the  season  along  our  coast. 
The  dates  for  the  closed  season  on  the  Sacramento  River  and  in  Monte- 
rey Bay,  and  along  the  the  coast  where  the  salmon  fishing  grounds  are 
located,  should  be  arranged  from  data  collected  by  the  Department  of 
Commercial  Fisheries  and  the  Department  of  Fishculture,  so  that 
the  best  results  may  be  obtained.  Further  experiments  should  be  car- 
ried on,  at  the  Chico  Experimental  Station  where  the  Fish  and  Game 
Commission  has  procured  a  lease  from  the  City  of  Chico  on  Big  Chico 
Creek  in  the  Bidwell  Park.  These  experiments  should  include  the  rear- 
ing of  salmon  fry  in  ponds,  so  that  if  the  Irc«i  Canyon  Project  is  com- 
pleted, the  Commission  will  be  in  a  position  to  save  the  salmon  of  the 
Sacramento  River  by  a  pond  rearing  system. 

The  installation  of  the  dams  in  Pit  River  by  the  Pacific  Gas  and 
Electric  Company  to  generate  hydro-electric  power  will  destroy  that 
stream  as  a  natural  breeding  ground  for  salmon.  If  work  is  begun  on 
the  Iron  Canyon  Project  in  the  next  year,  the  power  company  should 
be  forced  to  erect  a  salmon  hatchery  and  rearing  ponds  on  Pit  River 
to  propagate  the  salmon  that  their  project  will  destroy.  This  should  be 
taken  up  at  an  early  date  and  every  effort  made  to  save  the  salmon. 

The  last  of  the  salmon  breeding  grounds  on  the  San  Joaquin  will 
be  destroyed  this  season  by  the  completion  of  the  Kerckhoff  dam  and 
powerhouse  by  the  San  Joaquin  Light  and  Power  Company.  The  water 
wall  be  diverted  through  a  tunnel  17,000  feet  in  length  that  will  dry  up 
about  12  miles  of  the  river  bed  as  well  as  prevent  any  salmon  from 
ascending  above  the  dam.  A  survey  of  conditions  on  the  San  Joaquin 
River  has  been  made  and  an  estimate  of  the  number  of  breeding  salmon 
that  pass  the  Mendota  Weir,  about  50  miles  below  the  Kerckhoff  dam, 
is  in  preparation.  A  survey  has  been  made  for  a  fishway  over  the  new 
^Mendota  Weir  that  is  now  under  construction.  This  will  allow  the 
spring  run  of  salmon  to  pass  on  up  the  San  Joaquin  River  to  a  point 
where  the  large  irrigation  canals  take  the  water  out  of  the  river.  These 
salmon  ascend  the  river  during  May,  June  and  the  first  part  of  July. 
In  the  foot  hills  near  Friants  they  congregate  in  the  large  pools  and 
remain  until  such  time  in  the  fall  as  the  temperature  is  right  for  them 
to  spawn,  then  they  ascend  the  river  into  the  gorge  of  the  San  Joaquin 


22  REPORT    OF   THE   FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 

River  where  they  spawn  during  the  fall.  This  is  the  result  of  our  obser- 
vations and  data  gathered  from  the  residents  and  deputies  who  have 
lived  in  that  vicinity  for  years.  If  such  proves  to  be  the  facts,  the 
only  way  to  save  the  remainder  of  this  run  of  fish  is  to  establish  an 
egg  collecting  station  near  the  Kerckhoff  powerhouse,  collect  the  eggs, 
and  transfer  them  by  truck  to  Powerhouse  No.  1,  a  distance  of  about 
seven  miles,  and  there  hatch  and  rear  the  fry  in  ponds.  The  fry 
should  then  be  held  until  the  following  spring,  or  it  may  be  necessary 
to  hold  them  in  the  ponds  for  16  months,  until  the  following  spring 
after  they  are  hatched,  and  then  release  them  in  the  river  during  flood 
periods  before  the  large  canals  are  opened  for  the  season's  operations. 

If  the  water  is  turned  in  the  large  canals  before  the  fry  are  ready  to 
be  released  or  the  water  is  not  turned  off  from  the  large  canals  during 
the  winter  and  early  spring,  the  fry  would  have  to  be  transported  by 
truck  down  the  river  to  where  they  could  be  distributed  below  the  canal 
systems.  All  this  work  should  be  forced  on  the  power  companies.  They 
construct  impassable  obstructions  in  our  rivers  and  streams  in  the 
shape  of  dams  and  diverting  tunnels  and  canals  without  regard  to  the 
enormous  destruction  of  the  runs  of  commercial  fishes.  The  Legislature 
should  enact  laws  at  once,  compelling  the  power  and  irrigation  com- 
panies to  erect  hatcheries  and  pond  rearing  systems,  when  in  the  judg- 
ment of  the  Fish  and  Game  Commission  it  is  deemed  necessary  to  do  so, 
and  to  furnish  the  funds  to  the  state  for  the  maintenance  of  these 
hatcheries. 

There  has  been  no  effort  on  the  part  of  some  of  the  power  companies 
and  irrigation  districts  to  repair  any  of  the  damage  that  they  are  doing 
in  destroying  a  valuable  source  of  food  supply  for  the  people.  While 
they  are  developing  properties  that  are  essential  to  the  development 
and  growth  of  the  state,  they  should  at  least  be  compelled  to  maintain 
the  run  of  eommercial  fishes  that  they  destroy  in  so  doing,  when  it  can 
be  done  easily  and  at  a  nominal  cost. 

Some  of  the  corporations  have  cooperated  with  us  to  the  very  fullest 
extent  possible  in  this  work,  but  others  have  consistently  opposed  or 
evaded  our  efforts  to  conserve  our  commercial  fishes. 

The  eommercial  fish  interests  should  wake  up  to  the  fact  that  their 
valuable  business  is  being  destroyed  to  create  another  industry,  and 
everyone  should  assist  the  Fish  and  Game  Commission  in  saving  this 
important  food  supply  before  it  is  too  late. 

MOUNT    SHASTA    HATCHERY. 

During  the  biennial  period  there  were  distributed  from  the  Mount 
Shasta  Hatchery  a  total  of  14,948,000  trout  fry.  A  small  portion  of 
these  fish  were  distributed  in  local' streams  from  the  hatchery,  but  the 


REPORT    OF   THE    FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION.  23 

greater  number  of  them  were  shipped  away  in  the  two  fish  distribution 
cars  to  other  sections  of  the  state. 

While  the  department  is  operatin<?  a  total  of  twenty-two  hatcheries 
and  egg  collecting  stations  in  various  sections  of  the  state,  the  greater 
portion  of  the  streams  are  stocked  with  tT-out  fry  from  the  ^Fount  Shasta 
iratchery.  It  is  at  this  station  tliat  llic  ciilirc  supply  of  brood  stock  is 
held  in  artificial  ponds,  which  furnishes  all  of  the  Eastern  brook,  Loch 
Leven  and  Brown  trout  fry.  A  small  stock  of  rainbow  breeders  is  also 
carried  at  this  liatchery.  Under  this  system  there  is  assured  a  never 
failing  supply  of  trout  fry,  no  inatter  to  what  extent  adverse  climatic 
conditions  may  afit'ect  tlic  collecting  of  eggs  from  the  wild  fish  in  the 
streams  ;in(]  lakes  on  which  our  egg  collecting  stations  are  located. 
Especially  during  the  past  two  seasons  when  our  take  of  eggs  from  the 
wild  trout  fell  far  below  normal,  on  account  of  the  extreme  drought  it 
lias  Ix'cu  a  source  of  gratification  to  this  department  to  know  that  the 
breeding  stock  in  the  jMount  Shasta  Hatchery  ponds  could  be  relied 
upon  to  furnish  at  least  a  fair  number  of  fry,  all  of  desirable  species, 
for  keeping  our  streams  stocked. 

We  believe  that  the  general  public  does  not  sufficiently  appreciate 
our  accomplishments  in  this  line  of  work.  Even  the  applicants,  with 
whom  we  are  more  closely  in  touch,  are  so  accustomed  to  having  their 
requests  for  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of  trout  fry  met  annually, 
and  substantially  as  requested,  that  they  little  realize  all  the  Avork  and 
jdanning  it  takes  to  produce  the  fish. 

]\[ount  Shasta  Hatchery  was  established  in  1888.  The  equipment 
consisted  of  a  single  building  40  feet  by  60  feet  with  a  capacity  of  44 
hatching  troughs.  The  output  of  fish  during  the  first  few  years  was 
l)ut  a  few  hundred  thousand  fry  annually.  Today  the  station  covers 
seventeen  acres  of  land,  practically  every  foot  of  which  is  utilized. 
There  are  five  large  hatchery  buildings  located  on  the  site  with  a 
combined  capacity  of  450  hatching  troughs,  capable  of  handling  at  least 
10,000,000  trout  fry  annually.  Other  buildings  consist  of  a  superin- 
tendent's residence,  cottages  for  the  foreman  and  assistants,  barn,  sheds, 
garage,  spawning  house  and  kitchen  for  the  preparation  of  the  fish  food. 
There  are  50  large  rearing  ponds,  where  the  breeding  fish  are  retained, 
nurseries  for  the  young  fish,  etc.  In  addition  to  this  equipment  the 
Commission  has  leased  outside  the  grounds,  but  within  a  radius  of 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  plant,  three  large  ponds  which  are  used  for 
rearing  salmon  fry.  The  capacity  of  these  ponds  is  3,000,000  fry. 
A  one  and  a  half-ton  truck  is  used  for  hauling  materials  and  supplies 
from  the  town  of  Sisson,  which  is  one  mile  distant,  and  for  hauling  fish 
and  eggs  to  and  from  the  trains. 


24  REPORT  OF   THE  FISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 

During  the  past  year  a  great  deal  of  repair  and  improvement  work 
has  been  undertaken,  the  most  important  accomplished  being  the  instal- 
lation of  new  hatching  troughs  in  "Hatchery  A."  The  entire  station 
is  in  first  class  shape. 

By  far  the  greater  portion  of  the  salmon  cultural  operations  of  the 
department  are  carried  on  at  ]\rount  Shasta  Hatchery.  During  the  bien- 
nial period  a  total  of  23,363,000  Chinook  salmon  were  reared  and  dis- 
tributed from  j\Iouut  Shasta  Hatchery.  Of  this  number  a  little  over 
16,000,000  have  been  distributed  in  the  upper  reaches  of  the  Sacra- 
mento and  Klamath  rivers  during  the  spring  and  early  part  of  the 
summer,  and  the  balance  of  over  7,000,000  have  been  reared  in  the  three 
salmon  rearing  ponds  above  referred  to  through  the  summer  months. 
The  fry  have  an  abundance  of  natural  food  in  these  lakes  and  an 
unlimited  flow  of  pure,  cold,  mountain  water.  They  are  also  fed  on 
artificially  prepared  foods. 

The  conditions  under  which  the  fry  are  reared  are  ideal  and  when 
the  season  is  favorable  for  their  release  into  the  streams  after  the  first 
fall  rains,  they  are  in  most  excellent  condition  for  their  long  journey 
to  the  sea. 

Located  as  it  is  at  an  altitude  of  3500  feet  above  sea  level  on  the 
southern  slope  of  Mount  Shasta  and  in  the  heart  of  Strawberry  Valley, 
with  a  wonderful  supply  of  pure  cold  water,  as  well  as  being  within 
a  mile  of  the  main  line  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad,  which  is  but 
a  couple  of  hours  by  rail  from  the  rainbow  trout  egg  collecting  stations 
on  the  Klamath  River,  Mount  Shasta  Hatchery  is  ideally  situated.  It 
has  a  capacity  for  handling  not  only  the  bulk  of  trout  fry  which  can 
be  transported  to  practically  every  section  of  the  state  at  a  compara- 
tively moderate  cost  with  a  minimum  loss  of  fish,  but  is  capable  of 
also  rearing  a  sufficient  number  of  salmon  fry  to  maintain  the  salmon 
run  in  the  Sacramento  River. 

KLAMATHON    HATCHERY. 

In  order  that  the  run  of  Chinook  salmon  in  the  Klamath  River  might 
be  properly  maintained,  it  was  deemed  essential  that  the  department 
increase  the  extent  of  its  operations  with  reference  to  this  locality. 

For  many  years  past  the  Klamath  River  has  been  stocked  each  season 
with  Chinook  salmon  fry,  the  supply  being  principally  obtained  from 
eggs  taken  from  the  Sacramento  River.  The  United  States  Bureau  of 
Fisheries  had  operated  the  egg  collecting  station  at  Klamathon  and  the 
eggs  here  taken  were  mostly  shipped  to  Sisson.  where  they  were  hatched, 
reared,  shipped  back  and  planted  in  the  Klamath  River.  The  Bureau 
also  hatched  some  fry  at  Klamathon  and  these  fry  were  planted  early 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION.  25 

in  the  spring.  However,  the  station  was  not  well  equipped  for  general 
operations  and  the  water  supply  was  poor  and  uncertain  and  conse- 
quently the  extent  of  the  operations  was  limited  and  the  results 
ohtained  far  from  adequate.  After  careful  deliberation,  it  was  decided 
that  some  radical  clianirrs  in  the  nictliod  of  sto('l\ing  the  Klamath  River 
nuist  l)e  undertaken.  Tlie  matlcr  was  taken  up  with  the  Bureau  of 
Fislieries  and  they  very  kindly  agreed  to  turn  the  station  over  to  us 
and  donated  the  use  of  most  of  their  equipment,  buildings,  etc. 

In  our  repoi't  of  1918,  mention  was  made  of  the  provisions  of  the 
l;i\v  i'(M[uii'iiii;-  llic  owners  of  dams  to  erect  hatcheries  in  lieu  of  fish- 
ways,  when  in  the  judgment  of  the  Fish  and  Game  Commission  the 
dams  are  too  higli  for  the  successful  operation  ©f  a  fishway  or  for  other 
reasons  it  is  deemed  best  to  establish  hatcheries  below  the  dams  for  the 
propagation  of  any  species  of  fish  that  may  be  obstructed  in  their 
movements  l)y  the  dams.  In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this 
act,  arrangements  were  made  witli  the  California-Oregon  Power  Com- 
pany to  erect  a  good  hatchery  and  cottages  for  the  help  at  Fall  Creek, 
and  to  establish  racks  and  an  eg(^  collecting  station  at  Klamathon  for 
the  purpose  of  collecting  salmon  eggs  from  the  salmon  that  could  not 
i-eaeh  the  spawning  grounds  on  the  upper  reaches  of  the  river,  because 
of  the  high  dam  constructed  by  tlie  California-Oregon  Power  Company. 

The  racks  at  Klamathon  are  well  constructed.  The  plans  for  the 
racks  and  buildings  were  furnished  by  the  Department  of  Fishculture 
and  our  employees  had  the  supervision  of  the  work.  The  egg  collecting 
station  at  Klamathon  and  the  Fall  Creek  Hatchery  were  built  by  the 
power  company  at  an  expense  of  over  $20,000. 

Construction  of  the  racks  was  l^egun  during  the  fall  of  1918,  and  was 
finished  in  time  to  secure  a  small  number  of  salmon  eggs.  Under  our 
plan  of  operation  it  was  decided  to  take  the  eggs  at  Klamathon  Station 
and  ship  them  to  the  new  Pall  Creek  Hatchery,  Avhich  was  under  con- 
struction at  the  same  time,  where  they  would  be  hatched,  reared  and 
planted  in  the  Klamath  River  and  tributaries.  Nearly  a  million  Chinook 
salmon  eggs  were  secured  during  the  fall  of  1918.  Early  in  September, 
1919,  a  crew  was  put  to  work  at  Klanuithon  Hatchery  and  everything 
was  put  in  excellent  shape  for  the  season's  operations.  The  season 
jiroved  to  be  very  unfavorable  for  egg  collecting  operations.  The  fall 
i-ains  came  unusually  late  in  the  season  and  were  insutfieient  to  raise 
the  Klamath  River  lo  h'vds  necessary  for  a  good  run  of  fish.  However, 
we  were  fairly  successful  and  secured  5,000,000  eggs  before  the  run  was 
finally  over.  Should  next  season  be  favorable  for  salmon  egg  collecting 
operations,  dnublo  tliis  number  will  undoubtedly  be  secured. 


26  REPORT    OF    THE    FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 

FALL  CREEK   HATCHERY. 

As  above  mentioned,  the  Fall  Creek  Hatchery  was  constructed  and 
paid  for  by  the  California-Oregon  Power  Company  in  lieu  of  construct- 
ing a  fish  ladder  over  their  dam  at  Copco  in  the  Klamath  River. 

A  site  on  Fall  Creek,  a  tributary  of  the  Klamath  River,  at  a  distance 
of  sixteen  miles  from  the  town  of  Hornbrook  and  along  the  line  of 
the  old  Klamath  River  railroad  was  selected.  A  substantially  con- 
structed hatchery  building,  with  a  capacity  of  one  hundred  hatching 
troughs,  a  cottage  for  the  foreman  and  living  quarters  for  assistants 
comprise  the  equipment.  The  hatchery,  completely  equipped  for  fish- 
cultural  operations  and  with  a  capacity  sufficient  to  adequately  take 
care  of  requirements  in  that  section,  was  completed  and  ready  for 
operation  in  the  spring  of  1919.  The  Chinook  salmon  eggs,  taken  at 
the  Klamathon  Hatchery  during  the  previous  fall,  were  hatched  here 
and  the  fry  reared  for  distribution  in  the  Klamath  River  and  tributaries 
during  the  spring  and  summer  of  1919. 

Five  hundred  thousand  Chinook  salmon  fry  were  planted  during  the 
early  spring  months  and  a  large  pond  was  constructed  in  which  were 
held  and  reared,  to  the  fingerliDg  stage,  648,000  fry.  They  were  released 
in  the  stream  during  the  months  of  October  and  November.  In  addition 
to  handling  the  salmon  work  during  the  season  of  1919,  670,000  rainbow 
trout  eggs  were  received  from  the  Bogus  Creek  Station  that  spring  and 
were  reared  and  planted  in  the  Klamath  River,  above  and  below  the  dam 
and  in  tributary  streams,  during  that  summer.  A  large  portion  of  the 
rainbow  trout  eggs  taken  at  the  Bogus  Creek  Station  are  immediatelj^ 
transferred  to  the  Fall  Creek  Hatchery,  where  they  are  "eyed"  and 
later  all  surplus  eggs  over  and  above  the  amount  required  for  stock- 
ing the  Klamath  River  are  shipped  to  other  stations  to  be  hatched  and 
reared  for  general  distribution. 

BOGUS    CREEK    STATION. 

For  a  number  of  years  rainbow  trout  egg  collecting  operations  have 
been  carried  on  in  the  Klamath  River  section  by  trapping  the  spawning 
fish  as  they  ascend  Bogus  Creek  and  Camp  Creek.  The  racks,  traps 
and  holding  tanks  in  botli  oi  these  creeks  were  in  a  very  poor  state  of 
repair  and  accordingly,  during  the  fall  of  1919,  the  old  egg  collecting 
plant  was  removed  and  new  equipment  installed. 

Spawning  operations  at  these  two  creeks  are  carried  on  by  the  same 
crew,  as  they  are  but  a  short  distance  apart.  Bogus  Creek  being  on  one 
side  of  the  Klamath  River  and  Camp  Creek  a  short  distance  above  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  stream.  Accordingly,  the  two  camps  are  oper- 
ated under  the  name  of  Bogus  Creek  Station. 

In  the  spring  of  1918,  2,000,000  rainbow  trout  eggs  were  collected 
from  this  station  and  in  1919,  2,500,000  were  taken.    During  the  spring 


REPORT   OP   THE   PISH    AND   GAME    COMMISSION.  27 

of  1920,  we  procured  over  2,()00,000  o<;(,'s  from  tliis  station,  despite 
tbe  extreme  (lrou(?lit  and  uii  favorable  weather  conditions,  whicli 
()l)taiiic'd  Ihiouj^luMil  the  state.  The  success  of  our  operations  at  this 
statiuii  tliis  season  was  due  to  the  installation  of  the  lU'W  equipment. 
The  eytrs  were  shipped  to  Fall  Ci-eek  llatcher>-  aiul  to  Mount  Shasta 
Jlateliery.  where  they  wei"e  "eyed""  and  reaied  I'oi'  dist  I'ihiit  ion  thi-(Mmli- 
out  dilt'erent  sections  of  the  state. 

HORNBROOK     STATION. 

TTonihi'ouk  Station,  which  is  lo;;ited  on  Cottonwood  Creek,  near  the 
town  of  llornbrcok,  Siskixoii  ("minty.  prodnced  Tiri.OOU  rainbow  trout 
egj^s  in  the  spi'ini;'  of  l!)lli  and  this  nuiiiher  i-oidd  have  been  materially 
increased  had  tlie  racks  been  i)la;cd  in  the  sti'eani  lower  down  and  had 
we  been  better  e(|uipped  for  eji'u'  collectini;'  oi)erations. 

A  cai'd'ol  iii\-esl  illation  of  Cottonwood  Creek  with  I'eferenee  to 
the  collecting  of  rainbow  trout  eggs  was  made  during  the  spring  and 
early  summer  of  191!).  A  lease  for  a  new  site  was  obtained  from  Mr. 
.Marshall  Horn  and  a  permanent  system  of  racks  was  installed  therein 
to  ti-ap  the  spawning  tj-out  as  they  ascend  the  stream.  A  new  and  larger 
holding  tank  for  the  fish  was  also  installed  and  with  the  new  equip- 
ment it  was  possible  to  obtain  1,600,000  trout  eggs  in  the  spring  of 
1920.  These  eggs  were  shipped,  as  soon  as  taken,  to  the  IMount  Shasta 
llatehery. 

MOUNT   WHITNEY    HATCHERY. 

The  IMount  Whitney  Ilatchei-y.  which  is  located  near  the  town  of 
Independence,  Inyo  County,  and  which  was  completed  in  the  spring  of 
liMT.  lias  been  operated  each  season  to  better  advantage.  This  hatchery 
has  the  most  extensive  and  complete  ecpiipment  of  any  of  our  station.- 
and  the  results  obtained,  especially  during  the  past  two  years,  have 
demonstrated  the  success  of  the  hatchery.  The  trout  fry  produced  at 
this  hatchery  are  larger  and  more  vigorous  than  those  of  any  other 
hatchery.  This  condition  is  due  to  the  wonderful  supply  of  pure,  cold 
water  with  which  the  hatchery  is  supplied  from  Oak  Creek,  and  to  the 
fact  that  the  fishcidtural  equipment  is  superior  to  that  of  any  other 
station.  While  it  is  true  that  the  station  is  located  at  a  considerable 
distance  fi-om  some  of  the  Southern  California  and  San  Joaquin  Valley 
sections,  Avhich  receive  their  supply  of  trout  therefrom,  the  transporta- 
tion facilities  are  very  good,  the  fi-aiiis  being  run  on  schedules  which 
permit  of  the  fish  being  delivered  to  the  applicants  within  but  a  very 
short  time  of  their  leaving  the  hatchery.  Consequently,  the  fry  are  in 
the  very  best  possible  condition  when  planted  in  the  streams.  While 
it  may  appear,  to  one  not  familiar  with  the  existing  conditions,  that 
the  distribution  of  the  fish  from   IMount  Whitney  Hatchery  is  more 


28  REPORT   OP   THE   FISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 

expensive  than  from  other  stations,  on  account  of  the  hi«!:h  rate  of  fares 
from  Mojave  to  Owenyo,  the  very  reverse  is  true;  for  the 
trips  of  our  distribution  car  are  all  comparatively  short  ones  and  we 
are  enabled  to  complete  the  distribution  work  within  a  short  time, 
which  materially  lessens  the  cost  of  distribution.  But  the  most  import- 
ant feature  of  the  advantage  to  Southern  California  of  this  hatchery 
is  the  excellence  of  the  fry  produced.  They  are  truly  wonderful  fish 
and  the  advantage  to  the  southern  waters  of  our  planting  such  fry  is 
really  inestimable. 

During  the  biennial  period,  we  distributed  a  total  of  nearly  5,000,000 
trout  fry  from  Mount  Whitney  Hatchery.  The  most  interesting  work 
undertaken  at  this  station  during  the  two  years,  from  a  fish  cultural 
standpoint,  has  been  the  propagation  of  golden  trout,  obtained  from  the 
Cottonwood  Lakes  Station.  The  propagation  of  this  species  is  very 
difficult  owing  to  the  weakness  of  the  embr^'os.  The  eggs  are  fertilized 
with  but  an  ordinary  loss,  but  the  embryos  hatched  seem  to  lack  vitality 
and  it  is  only  by  exercising  the  greatest  care  and  patience  in  handling 
the  eggs  during  incubation  and  in  caring  for  the  embryos,  tliat  the 
fry  survive  at  all.  However,  golden  trout  are  being  successfully  reared, 
and  some  very  excellent  results  are  expected  from  the  stocking  of  the 
streams  and  lakes  of  the  southern  high  Sierra,  in  which  section  con- 
ditions are  propitious  for  the  successful  development  of  this  species. 

Owing  to  the  failure  to  collect  the  usual  number  of  eggs  this  spring, 
we  were  not  able  to  carry  out  the  plans  of  stocking  all  the  barren  lakes 
and  streams  of  this  region  this  season,  but  plans  are  being  made  to 
carry  on  the  work  next  season.  A  well  equipped  pack  train  in  charge 
of  an  experienced  fish  planter  will  be  placed  in  charge  of  the  work. 
This  is  an  important  work  as  it  will  stock  the  barren  waters  in  advance 
of  the  army  of  anglers  that  each  season  advance  farther  into  our  moun- 
tain regions  in  search  of  sport  and  recreation. 

The  work  of  improving  the  grounds  around  the  hatchery  has  been 
continued  and  the  gardens  are  beginning  to  show  the  results.  A  large 
pond  has  been  constructed,  in  which  there  are  a  number  of  adult  trout 
of  different  species.  Surrounding  the  pond  are  extensive  lawns  and 
beautiful  flower  gardens,  roadways,  paths,  etc.  The  shrubs  and  trees 
set  out  a  year  ago  last  spring  are  thriving  exceptionally  well,  and  the 
time  is  not  far  distant  when  the  Mount  Whitney  grounds  will  take  rank 
with  some  of  the  finest  garden  spots  of  the  state. 

COTTONWOOD    LAKES    STATION. 
As  above  stated,  the  propagation  of  golden  trout  fry  for  the  stocking 
of  streams  and  lakes  of  the  southern  high  Sierra,  has  engaged  the  atten- 
tion of  the  Department  for  the  past   two  years.     The   eggs  of  this 
variety   are   obtained   ])y   trapping  the  spawners  as   they   ascend   the 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH    AND    GAME   COMMISSION. 


29 


streams  flowing  into  Cottonwood  Lakes.  These  operations  are  carried 
on  under  extreme  difficulties.  The  fi.sli  commence  "running"  as  soon 
as  the  ice  on  the  hikes  commences  to  break  up  in  the  spring,  which  is 
generally  during  the  middli'  of  June.  'Hie  remoteness  of  the  site  of 
operations  from  railroatls,  highways  or,  indeed,  any  human  habitations, 
the  high  altitude,  and  prevalence  of  snow  .storms,  make  the  trip  into 
this  remote  section  at  this  season  of  tlic  year  actually  dangerous  at 
times.  Nevertheless  the  work  has  been  continued  and  crews  have  gone 
into  the  "lakes"  each  season  and  successfully  accomplished  their  mis- 
sion. Five  Inuidrcd  tliousnnd  eggs  were  taken  in  the  spring  of  1918, 
and  in  1919,  nearly  a  million  eggs  were  procured.  Immediately  after 
each  spawning  pack  trains  were  started  out  to  take  the  eggs  to  the  Mount 
Wliitney  Hatchery  where  they  were  hatched  and  reared.  The  Cotton- 
wood Lakes  Station  is  being  opened  up  again  this  season  and  about 
three  quarters  of  a  million  eggs  will  be  taken,  if  conditions  are 
favorable. 


Fig.  .5.  On  the  way  to  tlie  Rae  Lakes  Kg^-coUectins;  Station,  on  June  7.  1920.  It 
takes  ingenuity  and  hard  work  to  reach  seme  of  the  spawning  stations.  Photograph 
by  G.  McCloud  Jr. 

RAE    LAKES  STATION. 

The  Rae  Lakes  Station  was  established  during  the  late  spring  of  1917 

and  operated  that  season.    At  the  site  of  operations  the  altitude  is  10,500 

feet  above  sea  level.     It  is  a  beautiful  cliain  of  lakes  set  in  the  heart  of 

the  high  southern  Sierra  in  Fresno  County,  and  is  well  stocked  with 

rainbow  trout.    To  reach  the  site  in  time  to  trap  the  fish  as  they  enter 

the  streams  to  spawn  is  extremely  difficult.    The  trip  into  the  lakes  must 

be  made  via  Oak  Creek  pass  at  an  elevation  of  over  11,000  feet.    There 

are  few  trails  and  one  must  make  the  trip  through  the  blind  mountain 


30 


REPORT   OP   THE   FISH   AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 


Fig.  6.  Shoveling  snow  to  release  a  pack  animal  on  tlie  Rae  Lake  trail,  June  9, 
1920.  Crossing  the  Sierras  in  summer  is  not  always  an  easy  thing.  Photograph  by 
G.  McCloud  Jr. 

passes  over  great  depths  of  snow.  Severe  snow  storms  in  this  section, 
even  in  June  when  the  fish  are  spawning,  are  frequent.  Even  when 
the  days  are  clear  and  warm,  the  nights  are  freezing  cold  and  the 
.journey  through  the  passes  is  at  best  a  difficult  one,  taxing  the  strength 


Fig.    7.      Spawning    lainbow    Irout   at    the    Umc    i.;ik'-s    i<;gg-.'(illc(t  iiig   Station. 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 


31 


and  resourcefulness  of  the  hardii'st  moimtainocrs.  Owing  to  the  difficul- 
ties attending  the  opening  up  iiinl  operation  of  this  station,  and  to  the 
fact  that  sufficient  skilled  help  to  operate  all  of  our  hatcheries  to 
capacity  could  not  be  obtained,  tliis  station  was  not  utilized  during 
1918  and  1911). 

On  account  of  the  e.xtrenu?  drought  obtaining  tiirougliout  the  entire 
state  during  the  winter  and  spring  of  1920,  which  materially  reduced 
our  take  of  trout  eggs,  it  was  decided  tliat  every  effort  should  be  made 
to  take  at  least  a  half  million  rainbow  eggs  at  the  Rae  Lakes  Station  in 


colleetins  Station  as  it  appeared  at  the  end  of 
June,    1920.     Photograph  by  L.   J.   Stinnett. 

order  tluit  .Mount  AYhitney  Hatchery  might  be  supplied  with  an  ample 
number  of  trout  eggs  to  stock  the  streams  and  lakes  of  southern 
California.  Some  rainl)ow  and  a  few  steelhead  eggs  had  been  shipped 
to  Blount  Whitney  Hatchery  from  some  of  the  northern  stations,  but 
the  hatchery  was  still  half  a  million  eggs  short  of  requirements. 

Accordingly,  on  June  7,  our  crew  left  Mount  "Whitney  Hatchery  for 
the  Rae  Lakes  district.  The  Oak  Creek  trail  was  in  very  bad  shape, 
rocks  and  slides  having  made  it  very  rough.  The  snow  banks  were  very 
deep  and  the  snow  soft,  making  it  extremely  difficult  to  get  the  pack 
animals  through  in  places.  Several  times  the  men  had  to  shovel  out 
l)aths  for  the  horses.  The  party  was  four  days  in  making  the  trip,  but 
fortunately  they  got  in  ahead  of  the  run.    The  ice  on  the  lakes  was  just 

3-7857 


32  REPORT    OP    THE    FISH    AND    GAME    COMJMISSlOX. 

coinniencinti-  to  \n-v;\k  up  and  it  was  several  days  before  the  fish  began 
to  run  into  the  creeks  to  spawn.  In  the  meantime,  the  crew  had  ample 
opportunity  to  install  the  racks,  traps  and  holding  pens. 

The  run  of  fish  was  very  heavy  but  being  of  small  size  they  pro- 
duced only  an  average  of  250  eggs  each.  Approximately  500,000  eggs 
Avere  taken,  al)out  what  we  expected  to  obtain.  The  eggs  were  brought 
down  to  the  Mount  Whitney  Hatchery  immediately  after  being  taken. 

LAKE   TAHOE    HATCHERY. 

The  Tahoe  Hatcherj'^,  located  on  tlie  shores  of  Lake  Tahoe,  one  mile 
from  the  town  of  Tahoe,  was  established  in  1889.  The  water  supply  is 
furnished  from  springs  rising  on  the  land  used  as  a  hatchery  site. 
Thirteen  acres  were  purchased  at  the  time  the  hatchery  was  constructed, 
so  as  to  secure  all  the  available  water  to  be  had  near  the  site.  The 
water  is  pure  and  very  good  for  the  purpose  of  rearing  fish,  but  the 
supply,  ten  miners  inches,  is  not  sufficient  for  a  hatchery  of  the  size 
necessary  to  supply  the  Tahoe  basin  outside  of  the  territory  supplied 
from  the  Mount  Tallac  Hatchery. 

During  the  fall  of  1917,  this  Department  began  a  survey  of  all  the 
available  and  suitable  streams  flowing  into  Lake  Tahoe  and  after  a 
careful  examination  we  selected  the  Walker  Springs,  one  mile  north 
from  the  present  site,  on  the  state  highway.  The  Walker  Springs  run 
during  the  minimum  flow  is  30  inches  of  water  and  during  the  maxi- 
mum flow  is  a  couple  of  hundred  inches,  and  this  during  the  season  of 
greatest  hatchery  activity.  Therefore  the  state  has  secured  a  most 
desirable  site  to  carry  on  hatchery  work.  It  is  the  only  suitable  water 
for  hatchery  purposes  in  the  Tahoe  basin  proper.  The  streams  that 
have  their  sources  in  the  mountain  range  surrounding  Lake  Tahoe  carry 
too  much  detritus  and  are  too  roily  during  the  time  the  snow  is  melting. 
After  purchasing  the  property,  plans  were  made  by  the  state  architect 
for  a  modern  stone  hatchery  with  four  times  the  capacity  of  the  old 
hatchery.  The  contract  was  given  to  Mr.  Matt  Green  during  the  sum- 
mer of  1919.  Work  was  begun  on  the  new  hatchery  that  fall  and  will 
be  completed  this  summer  (1920) .  At  the  request  of  Governor  Stephens 
and  the  citizens  of  Placer  County,  the  old  hatchery  grounds  were 
converted  into  a  public  camping  ground  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature 
during  1918,  and  the  management  of  this  public  park  was  placed  with 
the  Pish  and  Game  Commission,  who  have  improved  and  maintained 
it  from  the  funds  collected  from  hunting-  and  angling  licenses.  The 
old  hatchery  at  Tahoe  is  being  used  until  such  time  as  the  new  hatchery 
shall  be  completed. 

During  the  past  two  years  there  were  hatched  and  reared  857,000 
rainbow  and  black-spotted  trout  fry  at  the  Lake  Tahoe  Hatchery  and 


REPORT    OF   THE   FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION.  33 

these  wore  given  a  wide  distribution  in  tlie  streams  tributary  to  Lake 
Tahoe. 

The  new  hatchery  will  have  a  oapaeity  of  3,000,000  fry  up  to  the 
swinnninp:  stage.  Then  the  surplus  fry  can  be  placed  in  nursery  ponds 
until  such  lime  as  they  can  be  distributed.  The  work  of  fencing  the 
grounds,  building  roads,  cottages  for  the  superintendent  and  the  help, 
and  a  small  building  for  the  preparation  of  the  fish  food,  will  be  car- 
ried on  during  the  coming  fall  and  spring. 

An  endeavor  has  been  nuide  to  add  a  new  variety  of  game  fish  to  the 
native  species  of  trout  in  Lake  Tahoe,  by  the  introduction  of  the 
renowned  golden  trout  of  the  Mount  Whitney  region.  Last  summer  a 
consignment  of  250,000  golden  trout  eggs  were  shii)ped  from  the  IMount 
Whitney  Hatchery  to  the  Lake  Tahoe  Hatchery.  The  resulting  fry 
were  carefully  reared  and  planted  in  the  streams  flowing  into  the  lake, 
where  conditions  appeared  to  be  most  favorable  for  them.  If  the 
golden  trout  thrive  in  the  waters  of  Lake  Tahoe,  it  will  mean  much  t& 
the  anglers  of  the  state,  who  enjoy  the  fishing  in  this  region. 

MOUNT   TALLAC    HATCHERY. 

The  Talhiv;  Hatchery  has  been  operated  for  the  past  two  seasons  as 
formerly.  Some  changes  have  been  made  in  the  building  to  improve  the 
light  and  water  supply.  During  the  last  three  seasons  of  drought,  the 
water  supply  at  Tallac  Hatchery  was  effected  as  in  other  parts  of  the 
state. 

Since  the  construction,  by  the  Tallac  Hotel  management  some  years 
ago,  of  a  dam  at  the  outlet  of  Fallen  Leaf  Lake,  which  holds  back  the 
water  that  enters  the  lake  from  Glenn  Alpine  Creek,  the  principal  feeder 
of  Fallen  Leaf  Lake,  the  water  in  Taylor  Creek,  the  stream  that  is  the 
outlet  of  F'allen  Leaf  Lake,  has  been  very  low.  Owing  to  the  light  rain- 
fall in  the  autumn,  and  the  unusually  light  fall  of  snow  and  rain  during 
the  winter  months,  the  water  that  has  entered  the  lake,  during  the 
last  three  winters,  has  been  held  back  by  the  dam  at  the  outlet  of  the 
lake.  Consec|uently,  the  flow  of  water  in  Taylor  Creek  has  not  been 
great  enough  to  attract  the  spawning  fish  to  its  mouth,  where  it  pours 
its  waters  into  Lake  Tahoe,  and  where  our  egg-collection  station  is 
located. 

As  a  result  of  the  conditions,  the  take  of  black-spotted  trout  eggs  was 
considerably  less  than  in  other  seasons  of  normal  rain  and  snowfall. 
The  Tallac  egg  collecting  station  at  the  mouth  of  Taylor  Creek  has 
been  one  of  the  best  egg  collecting  stations  in  the  state.  From  three 
to  five  million  eggs  have  been  collected  annually  from  this  station  for 
the  last  fifteen  years. 

While  there  are  fifteen  other  streams  entering  Lake  Tahoe  on  the 
California  side  of  the  lake  where  the  trout  have  a  chance  to  spawn 


34  REPORT    OF    THE    FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 

naturally,  a  greater  number  entered  Taylor  Creek  than  any  other  stream 
flowing  into  the  lake,  and  our  supply  of  blaek-spotted  trout  eggs  has 
been  secured  from  this  creek  almost  exclusively  for  the  last  twenty-five 
years.  This  fact  alone  is  positive  proof  of  the  beneficial  results  of  arti- 
ficial propagation,  as  no  more  than  5  per  cent  of  the  eggs  collected 
annually  from  Taylor  Creek  are  returned  to  it  as  fry,  after  being  reared 
at  the  Tallac  Hatchery.  The  remainder  of  the  fry  are  distributed  in 
other  streams  entering  the  lake  and  throughout  the  Truckee  and 
Tahoe  basins.  The  number  of  trout  entering  this  stream  was  undimin- 
ished during  twenty  years  of  our  egg  collecting  operations  until  the 
water  was  held  back  during  the  last  two  unusually  dry  winters  by  the 
dam  at  the  outlet  of  Fallen  Leaf  Lake. 

What  the  effect  will  be  later  on  when  the  seasonal  storms  are  normal 
again  cannot  be  foretold,  but  it  is  probable  tliat  we  will  have  to  restock 
this  stream  heavily  for  a  couple  of  seasons  to  restore  the  run  that  has 
been  depleted  by  storage  of  the  water  in  Fallen  Leaf  Lake. 

We  are  planning  to  collect  eggs  from  the  Upper  Truckee  River,  that 
has  its  source  in  the  water  shed  of  the  mountain  range  to  the  south  of 
the  lake  and  empties  into  the  head  of  Lake  Tahoe,  about  two  and  one- 
half  miles  from  the  mouth  of  Taylor  Creek.  This  is  a  larger  stream 
than  Taylor  Creek  and  should  produce  as  many  eggs  as  it  has,  if  the 
run  has  not  been  depleted  during  the  years  that  the  market  fisherman 
and  others  were  carrying  on  their  illegal  fashing. 

The  new  hatchery  at  Tahoe  City  will  require  a  larger  number  of  eggs, 
as  its  capacity  is  four  times  as  great  as  that  of  the  old  station  which 
will  be  abandoned  this  season.  Therefore  our  efforts  to  collect  eggs 
from  some  of  the  other  streams  flowing  into  the  lake  will  have  to  be 
increased.  We  have  introduced  rainbow  and  steelhead  trout  into  Lake 
Tahoe  in  considerable  numbers  during  the  past  two  years,  and  in  a 
few  years  these  desirable  species  should  increase  in  numbers  great 
enough  to  give  an  added  attraction  to  the  already  remarkably  good 
fishing  to  be  had  in  Lake  Tahoe.  The  introduction  of  new  species  into 
the  lake  should  improve  the  fishing  conditions,  as  each  new  variety 
has  different  habits  from  the  others.  It  often  happens  that  in  a  lake  as 
large  as  Tahoe  the  native  species  will  not  take  the  bait  or  lure  offered 
them  during  certain  periods  in  the  summer,  as  the  temperature  and 
winds  have  caused  the  plankton  to  descend  to  greater  depths  than  is 
practicable  to  take  game  fish.  The  native  trout  during  these  periods 
follow  the  minnows  that  are  feeding  on  plankton.  Consequently  they 
are  too  deep  to  reach  with  ordinary  tackle  and,  if  they  are  reached, 
have  no  inclination  to  bite  freely  as  their  natural  food  supply  is  con- 
yentrated  where  they  can  easily  obtain  all  the  food  that  they  require 
without  much  effort. 


REPORT   OF   THE   PISH    AND   GAME   COMMISSION.  35 

New  species  of  fish  intr-odncod  will  liave  a  tendency  to  feed  nearer 
the  surface  and  the  aiitjlers  will  enjoy  better  fishinj?.  The  introduction 
of  rainbow  and  steelhead  trout  should  be  kept  up  for  a  number  of  years 
in  as  larj^e  numbers  as  possible,  as  it  takes  a  long  time  to  stock  a  body 
of  water  as  lar^e  as  Lake  Tahoe  with  a  new  species. 

In  IDIS.  tliere  were  hatched  and  reared  at  IMount  Tallac  Hatchery, 
149,000  rainbow,  ], 133,000  black-spotted  and  335,000  .steelhead  trout 
fry,  and  1919,  51,000  rainbow,  685,000  black-spotted  and  185,000 
steelhead  fry  were  distributed  in  Lake  Tahoe  and  other  waters  of  that 
section. 

The  .steelhead  trout  have  made  such  a  remarkable  growth,  and  pro- 
duced such  a  fine,  gamey,  fighting  fish  when  planted  in  inland  lakes  of 
the  high  Sierra  that  it  was  deemed  essential  that  an  effort  be  made  to 
introduce  this  species  in  the  waters  of  Lake  Tahoe,  hence  a  shipment  of 
steelhead  trout  eggs  is  being  sent  to  Mount  Tallac  Hatchery  each  season 
and  the  fry  are  planted  in  the  most  favorable  locations. 

FORT  SEWARD    HATCHERY, 

The  li;i1ch(M'y  established  in  1910  on  Fort  Seward  Creek,  Humboldt 
County,  has  more  than  filled  our  expectations,  the  fry  produced  at  this 
hatchery  being  the  best  reared  in  any  of  the  hatcheries  located  in  the 
Coast  counties. 

The  hatchery  building  is  situated  near  the  creek  in  a  steep-walled  can- 
yon and  the  superintendent '^;  dwelling  on  an  eminence  overlooking  the 
hatchery.  As  our  funds  were  limited  at  the  time  the  hatchery  was  estab- 
lished, only  a  poorly  constructed  cabin  could  be  built  for  the  help  be- 
sides the  cottage  for  the  superintendent.  During  the  fall  of  1919,  two 
four-room  cottages,  of  plain  interior  fini.sh  and  shingle  outside,  were 
built  .so  that  men  with  families  could  be  employed.  It  is  a  difficult 
matter  to  find  competent  help  that  will  stay  for  any  length  of  time  in  an 
isolated  place  such  as  this,  sixty  miles  south  of  Eureka  on  the  main  line 
of  the  Northwestern  Pacific  Railroad  and  five  miles  from  the  post  office 
and  store  at  Fort  Seward,  unless  every  comfort  is  provided. 

The  water  in  Fort  Seward  Creek  is  the  only  water  suitable  for 
hatchery  purposes  on  the  line  of  the  Northwestern  Pacific  Railroad. 
There  are  .several  streams  between  South  Fork  station  and  Fortuna,  but 
they  all  have  their  sources  in  the  same  sedimentary  formation  as  Price 
Creek,  where  we  were  compelled  to  abandon  the  hatchery  owing  to  the 
great  amount  of  sediment  carried  in  the  water  during  the  winter  and 
spring  when  the  rainy  season  was  at  its  height. 

•We  have  endeavored  to  find  a  location  from  which  an  ample  supply 
of  salmon  and  steelhead  eggs  could  be  collected  for  this  hatchery,  so 
that  Eel  River  may  not  be  depleted  of  the  valuable  run  of  salmon  and 


36  REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 

steelhead  to  be  found  in  that  river  and  its  tributaries.  Investigations 
have  been  made  for  rack  and  trap  sites  in  the  lower  reaches  of  the 
river,  but  none  have  been  found  that  can  be  operated  for  any  sum  of 
money  that  is  available  for  such  purposes  from  the  present  income  of  the 
Commission.  The  river  is  so  wide  and  deep  and  subject  to  such  tremen- 
dous floods  that  it  is  impracticable  to  attempt  to  collect  eggs  near  the 
mouth  of  it. 

It  has  been  urged  on  our  Dei)artiuent  several  times,  by  persons  not 
fcimiliar  with  fishcultural  operations  and  who  are  not  educated  to  the 
hal)its  of  the  anadromous  fishes  that  enter  Eel  River,  that  we  catch  the 
breeding  fish  for  our  egg  supply  from  the  fish  that  congregate  in  the 
large  pooLs  from  the  mouth  of  Bull  Creek  to  the  large  pool  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river.  The  fish  that  enter  the  river  and  linger  in  the  large  pools 
early  in  the  season  are  not  ripe  and  consequently  they  can  not  be 
spawned.  Several  attempts  have  been  made  during  the  last  few  years 
to  collect  eggs  from  the  salmon  on  the  lower  reaches  of  the  river,  but  for 
the  reasons  above  mentioned  all  efforts  have  failed. 

The  Fort  Seward  Hatchery  has  been  supplied  with  steelhead  eggs 
from  the  Snow  Mountain  Egg-collecting  Station  located  on  the  south  Eel 
River,  one  of  the  tributaries  of  the  main  or  middle  Eel  River.  A  careful 
examination  of  the  Eel  River  system  was  made  during  1918  and  1919 
in  an  effort  to  locate  an  egg  collecting  station  on  the  upper  reaches 
of  the  river  that  would  furnish  l)oth  salmon  and  steelhead  eggs  enough 
for  the  whole  Eel  River  in  northern  Humboldt  County,  and  several 
other  streams.  The  most  favorable  location  found  so  far,  is  near  Brans- 
coms  on  the  South  Fork  of  the  main  Eel  River  in  northern  Mendocino 
County.  The  eggs  can  be  collected  at  this  point  from  fish  that  are  ripe, 
as  the  site  is  located  approximately  120  miles  from  the  junction  of  the 
south  fork  and  the  main  Eel  River. 

The  south  fork  must  not  be  confused  with  the  South  Eel  River,  as 
the  two  streams  are  miles  apart  and  have  their  sources  in  different 
ranges  of  the  coast  mountains.  The  South  Eel  River,  which  in  reality  is 
the  head  of  the  main  Eel  River,  rises  in  the  middle  range  of  the  Coast 
Mountains.  The  south  fork  of  the  Eel  River  rises  in  northern  Mendo- 
cino County  in  the  Coast  Range  proper  and  follows  the  basin  near  the 
coast  all  the  way  to  its  junction  with  the  main  river.  It  is  the  principal 
tributary  of  the  Eel  River  system  and  flows  through  a  heavily  wooded 
country  from  its  source  to  the  mouth  and  carries  the  largest  amount  of 
water  during  the  fall  months  of  any  of  the  forks  of  the  Eel  River. 

Judging  from  the  amount  of  water,  the  topographical  formation  of 
the  country  through  which  it  flows,  and  the  temperature  of  the  water, 
it  is  the  branch  of  the  river  which  the  great  majority  of  the  steelhead 
and  salmon  enter  to  spawn.  This  cannot  be  determined  to  a  certainty'" 
until  an  experimental  station  is  operated  for  one  or  two  seasons. 


REPORT    OF    THE    FISH    AND    (lAMf;    COMMISSION. 


37 


We  iiro,  at  this  writing,  negotiating  foi-  a  site  iicai-  i'>i;iiiseunib.s  to 
lat'k  and  trap  the  river  and  carry  on  the  experiment.  It  is  necessary 
foi-  the  maintenance  of  the  run  of  llic  steelhead  and  sahnon  in  Eel 
IJivei-,  that  a  permanent  egg  collecting  station  be  esta])lislied  where  a 
sufficient  number  of  steelhead  and  .salmon  eggs  can  be  collected  annually 
to  furnish  the  Ft.  Seward  Hatchery  with  a  regular  supply  of  eggs  as 
well  as  enough  of  the  steelhead  trout  to  furnish  a  supply  for  some  of  our 
other  stations.  If  the  .station  at  Hranscombs  is  established  and  should 
prove  to  be  too  far  u|)  the  river,  another  location  farther  down  must  be 
found,  if  the  fishing  conditions  in  Eel  River  are  to  be  maintained.  It  is 
necessary  that  a  sufficient  number  of  fry  be  planted  each  season  to 
insure  a  good  run  of  fish. 


Fig.  9.  A  truck  load  of  trout  fry  for  planting  in  the  siirains  of  'J'nnity  County. 
AlthouEjh  tliese  fry  traveled  one  hundred  and  one  miles  over  mountain  roads,  only  one 
hundred  and  one  fish  were  lost  during  the  entire  trip.     Photograph  by  John  Gray. 

A  total  of  1,757,000  trout  fry  have  been  distributed  in  the  streams 
of  the  northwest  coast  counties,  ITumboldt,  Mendocino  and  Trinity, 
during  the  seasons  of  1918  and  1019,  from  the  Ft.  Seward  hatchery. 
The  fry  were  given  a  very  wide  distribution,  most  of  them  being  steel- 
heacLs  and  being  planted  in  the  Eel  River  and  tributaries.  The  Mad 
River  section  was  also  given  a  fine  lot  of  fry  and  fishing  is  reported  to  be 
excellent  in  that  district  as  a  result  of  the  continued  stocking  of  the 
streams. 

During  the  biennial  period  two  million  Chinook  Salmon  were  reared 
a1  the  Fort  Seward  Hatchery  and  planted  in  Eel  River,  Mad  River  and 
the  tributaries  of  Humboldt  Bay. 


38  REPORT    OF    THE   FISH    AXD    GAME    COMMISSION. 

UKIAH    HATCHERY. 

The  steelhead  trout  eggs  taken  at  Snow  Mountain  Station  have  been 
"eyed"  at  Ukiah  Hatchery  each  season,  and  the  surplus  eggs  shipped 
from  this  point  to  otlier  stations.  Of  the  eggs  retained  and  hatched  at 
til  is  station,  1,080.000  fry  have  been  reared  and  distributed  in  the 
streams  of  Mendocino  and  Sonoma  counties,  during  the  season  of  1918 
and  1919. 

Ukiah  Hatchery  was  opened  for  operations  in  the  spring  of  1920, 
and  the  eggs  taken  at  Snow  IMountain  Station  were  sent  dow^n  to  be 
"eyed,"  but  on  account  of  the  extreme  drought  which  affected  our 
operations  in  this  section  to  a  greater  extent  than  in  any  other  locality, 
Diere  was  not  a  sufficient  number  of  eggs  taken  to  justify  the  hatching 
and  rearing  of  fry  at  Ukiah.  Then  too,  the  water  supply  absolutely 
failed  during  the  latter  part  of  Ma,v  and  even  had  there  been  an 
ndequate  number  of  eggs  available  the  station  could  not  have  been 
operated.  As  it  was,  we  were  fortunate  in  being  able  to  "eye"  the  eggs 
and  prepare  them  for  shipment  before  the  water  supply  gave  out 
entirely.  Consequently,  all  of  the  eggs  were  shipped  to  Fort  Seward 
TIatchery,  from  Avhich  station  they  will  be  distributed  in  the  waters  of 
Humboldt,  Trinity,  JMendocino,  Sonoma  and  Marin  counties. 

SNOW    MOUNTAIN. 

During  the  spring  of  1918  a  total  of  3,600,000  steelhead  trout  eggs 
were  taken  at  Snow  IMountain  Station,  and  in  1919  we  obtained 
5.400,000.  During  both  seasons  the  number  of  eggs  taken  could  have 
l)een  very  materially  increased  had  we  l)een  provided  with  adequate 
facilities  for  holding  the  spawning  fish. 

This  station  is  located  at  the  Cape  Horn  dam  in  the  Eel  River.  The 
dam  and  the  fish  ladder  over  the  same  are  the  property  of  the  SnoAV 
Mountain  Water  and  Power  Company.  We  secured  from  the  Company 
a  lease  to  the  fish  ladder,  together  with  such  buildings  as  are  located  on 
the  site,  and  the  privilege  of  operating  thereon  a  hatchery  and  egg  col- 
lecting station.  A  small  battery  of  hatching  troughs  was  installed  and 
holding  pens,  etc.,  for  the  spawning  fish  were  provided.  As  the  fish  as- 
cend the  fish  ladder  they  are  automatically  trapped  and  swim  directly 
into  the  holding  pens,  from  which  they  cannot  escape.  It  is  a  very 
cleverly  arranged  scheme  and  in  addition  to  being  a  saving,  by  eliminat- 
ing a  great  deal  of  work,  lessens  the  loss  of  fish  from  handling.  How- 
ever, the  capacity  of  the  holding  pens  and  "eyeing"  equipment  was  not 
sufficient  to  enable  us  to  handle  the  maximum  of  the  capabilities  of  the 
plant,  for  the  run  of  spawn  fish  in  Eel  River  is  enormous  during  fav- 
orable seasons. 

To  increase  our  equipment  presented  some  unusual  difficulties,  how- 
ever, and  the  expense  would  necessarily  be  considerable,  so  it  was  not 


REPORT    OF    THE    FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION.  39 

until  tlie  early  winter  of  1919  that  we  were  enabled  to  undertake  the 
work.  While  there  were  many  unexpected  delays  in  eoniploting  the 
construction,  the  station  was  all  ready  for  operations  by  the  middle  of 
February,  1920,  and  the  crew  on  the  ground  and  in  readiness  for 
handling  the  largest  take  of  eggs  since  the  establishment  of  the  station. 
But  all  of  our  efforts  were  unavailing.  Week  succeeded  week  of  clear 
warm  siiiiiincf  wi'.ithci-.  'I'licrc  was  no  snow  in  the  iiioiiiitains  and  none 
of  the  usual  s])riii<;'  freshets  to  increase  the  flow  of  water  in  the  Eel 
River  sufificiently  to  jici-mit  the  breeding  fish  to  ascend  to  the  upper 
reaches  of  the  river.  During  Apiil  tlio  country  in  this  section  was  as 
dry  as  it  generally  is  in  September.  Springs,  which  normally  flow 
throughout  the  entire  year,  dried  up  in  April  and  May. 

Only  a  very  few  fish  succeeded  in  getting  up  as  far  as  our  station, 
and  only  750,000  eggs  were  obtained  as  a  result  of  our  entire  season's 
work.  These  were  shipped  to  Ukiah  Hatchery  where  they  were 
"eyed"  and  from  there  sent  to  Fort  Seward  Hatchery. 

During  the  biennial  period  375,000  steelhead  trout  fry  were  hatched 
and  reared  at  Snow  Mountain  Station  and  distributed  in  tributaries  of 
the  Eel  River. 

BROOKDALE    HATCHERY. 

All  of  the  steelhead  trout  eggs  taken  at  Scott  Creek  Station  are  imme- 
diately transported  to  Brookdale  Hatchery  where  they  are  properly 
"eyed"  and  whei'e  all  surplus  eggs  are  packed  and  shipped  to  other  sta- 
tions. During  the  two  years  1,559,000  steelhead  trout  were  distributed 
in  the  waters  of  Santa  Cruz  and  Santa  Clara  counties  and  a  few  also  in 
Monterey  and  San  ilateo  counties. 

Brookdale  Hatchery  is  the  property  of  Santa  Cruz  County  and  is 
operated  by  this  Conunission  under  an  agreement  providing  that  a 
half  million  steelhead  trout  fry  be  planted  each  year  in  the  waters  of 
Santa  Cruz  County  under  the  direction  of  the  board  of  supervisors. 

Owing  to  the  steady  decrease  in  the  water  supply  at  Brookdale 
Hatchery  during  the  last  four  years  of  drought  and  the  increased 
amount  u.sed  by  the  residents  of  Brookdale  during  the  early  summer, 
when  the  hatchery  shoidd  have  its  maximum  supply,  we  were  greatly 
embarrassed  in  carrying  on  our  hatchery  operations.  There  was  not 
sufficient  water  to  keep  the  fish  in  good  condition  after  the  first  of  July, 
and  the  fry  had  to  be  distributed  too  early  to  get  the  best  results.  We 
are  of  the  opinion  that  a  new  hatchery  site  should  be  selected  in  Santa 
Cruz  County,  if  conditions  do  not  improve  next  season.  It  is  very 
doubtful  if  water  conditions  will  improve  at  Brookdale  Hatchery,  as 
the  water  has  been  getting  less  each  season  for  the  last  five  years. 


40  REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND   GAME    COMMISSION. 

SCOTT   CREEK    STATION. 

During  the  past  two  years  the  Scott  Creek  Station  has  produced 
3.900,000  steelhead  trout  eggs  all  of  which,  as  above  mentioned,  have 
been   sent  as  soon   as  taken,   to   Brookdale  Hatcher3^ 

During  the  spring  of  1020.  the  same  conditions  prevailed  in  this 
section  as  in  other  parts  of  the  state,  although  there  was  a  little  heavier 
rainfall  than  in  the  Snow  Mountain  section.  During  most  of  the 
season  the  water  levels  in  Scott  Creek  were  considerably  below  the 
normal,  and  the  breeding  fish  were  unable  to  enter  the  creek  from  tne 
lagoon  on  account  of  the  sand  bars  at  the  mouth  of  the  stream.  From 
time  to  time,  however,  the  spring  storms  were  sufficient  to  raise  the 
waters  to  levels  which  permitted  some  of  the  fish  to  pass  over  the  bars 
and  ascend  the  stream  as  far  as  our  station.  As  a  result  of  our  efforts 
1,060,000  eggs  were  taken.  "While  this  number  is  only  about  half  of  our 
usual  take,  we  feel  that  in  view  of  the  adverse  conditions  for  egg  col- 
lecting operations,  we  did  very  well  to  obtain  this  number.  It  insured 
the  adequate  stocking  of  Santa  Cruz  and  Santa  Clara  county  streams, 
as  well  as  providing  a  limited  number  of  eggs  for  ]\Iount  Whitney 
Hatchery.  The  steelhead  fry  hatched  at  the  latter  station  will  l)e  dis- 
tributed in  streams  of  the  southern  counties  from  Santa  Barbara  to 
San  Diego. 

ALMANOR  HATCHERY. 
Almanor  Hatchery  has  been  operated  each  season  as  an  egg  collecting 
station.  It  produced  261,000  rainbow  eggs  in  1918,  and  282,000  in  1919. 
The  water  supply  fails  too  early  in  the  summer  to  permit  the  hatching 
and  rearing  of  fry  at  the  station,  and  accordingly,  the  eggs  are  trans- 
ferred to  Clear  Creek  or  Domingo  Springs  Hatchery  as  soon  as  they 
are  "eyed." 

DOMINGO  SPRINGS  HATCHERY. 
This  station  was  established  as  an  experimental  hatchery  in  1916. 
Improvements  were  made  during  1917,  when  the  temporary  plant  was 
moved  to  Rice  Creek,  one  of  the  main  branches  of  the  North  Fork  of 
the  Feather  River  above  Lake  Almanor.  A  thorough  test  of  the  water 
and  an  investigation  of  the  run  of  fish  resulted  in  the  establishment  of 
a  i)ermanent  egg  collecting  station  and  hatchery  at  this  place.  Accord- 
ingly, during  the  summer  and  fall  of  1919,  a  permanent  building  was 
erected  and  a  substantial  trap  constructed,  one-quarter  of  a  mile  below 
the  falls  in  Rice  Creek.  The  site  was  procured  from  the  United  States 
Forest  Service  and  we  now  have  a  very  desirable  station  at  that  place 
which  will  furnish  fry  for  the  entire  region  surrounding  the  west  side 
of  Lake  Almanor,  as  well  as  the  lakes  and  streams  in  the  IMount  Lassen 
National  Park  and  surrounding  country. 


REPORT   OF   THE   PISir    AND    GAME    COMMISSION.  41 

During  the  two  years  850,000  rainbow  and  steelhead  trout  fry  were 
(lisfrilmtcd  in  the  streams  ami  lakes  in  lliis  disti-ict  from  Domingo 
Springs  Hatchery.  A  total  of  2,200,000  rainbow  trout  eggs  was  col- 
lected at  this  station  during  the  two  seasons. 

Each  season  a  consignment  of  steelliead  trout  eggs  is  shipped  to 
Domingo  Springs  Hatchery  and  the  resulting  fry  are  planted  in  llic 
high  Sierran  lakes  of  that  region  which  are  suitable  for  this  variety. 
The  steelhead  trout  have  thrived  rcmarka1)ly  well  in  the  lakes  of  this 
section  and  afford  some  of  the  finest  fishing  in  the  state. 


I'lc.  III.  Kyoins  house  imd  tank  at  Canyon  Dam,  Lake  Alnianor,  Plumas  County, 
April,  1919.  Spawning  operations  must  be  begim  under  sucli  conditions  as  these. 
Pliotograph  by  S.  Campbell. 

CLEAR  CREEK  HATCHERY. 
The  Clear  Creek  Hatchery  and  Egg-collecting  Station  was  established 
in  the  fall  of  1918,  on  the  creek  that  bears  its  name,  one  and  one-half 
miles  from  the  town  of  Wostwood,  Lassen  County.  Clear  Creek  is  a 
tributary  of  the  Hamilton  Branch  of  the  Feather  River.  Before  the 
construction  of  the  dam  forming  Lake  Almanor,  it  flowed  into  the  val- 
ley known  as  Big  Meadows,  and  united  its  waters  with  those  of  the 
North  Fork  of  tlie  Feather  River,  which  entered  the  Big  Meadows 
l)asin  from  the  north.  Hamilton  Branch  flows  into  the  basin  from  the 
east.  The  TTnmilton  Branch  has  a  run  of  rainbow  trout  that  ascend 
the  stream  to  spawn  from  Lake  Almanor.  Clear  Creek  being  one  of  the 
principal  tributaries  of  the  Hamilton  Brancli  a  good  portion  of  the 
spawners  enter  this  creek.  The  distance  from  tlic  Clear  Creek  Station 
to  the  Domingo  Springs  Station  is  approximately  twenty  miles.  Clear 
Creek  has  its  source  in  a  large  spring  and  the  water  is  pure  and  cold  as 
all  the  waters  arc  tliat  rise  in  a  lava  formation. 


42 


REPORT   OP   THE   FISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 


The  Red  River  Lumber  Company  furnished  the  site  and  material 
for  the  Clear  Creek  ITatehery  and  the  Fish  and  Game  Commission  fur- 
nished the  labor  for  construction.  We  have  operated  there  for  the  last 
two  seasons  Avith  good  results. 

Clear  Creek  Station  was  first  operated  during  the  summer  of  1918, 
189,000  rainbow  trout  eggs  being  shipped  in  from  Almanor  Hatchery 
and  tlie  resulting  fry  reared  to  a  good  size  and  given  a  \\dde  distribu- 
tion in  the  waters  in  the  vicinity  of  Westwood.  During  the  season  of 
1919,  157,000  rainbow  trout  fry  were  reared  and  distributed  from 
Clear  Creek  Hatchery. 

BEAR    LAKE    HATCHERY. 

In  our  Biennial  Report  of  1918,  we  made  mention  of  the  necessity  of 
increasing   the   capacity  of  the  Bear  Lake   Hatchery   at   Green   Spot 


Fig.    11.      'i'lie    Old    ana    lu/w    li.uclieiy    at    Green 
Bernardino  County,  May  21,   1920. 


."^iiLit    .^iiriiigs,    Big   Bear   Valley,    San 
Photograph  by  L.   Philips. 


Springs.  We  had  been  using  the  old  buildings  that  had  been  erected 
by  tlie  Southern  California  Trout  Association,  but  it  was  poorly  con- 
structed and  the  arrangements  of  the  troughs  were  not  right  to  do  good 
work. 

After  procuring  a  permit  from  the  Forest  Service  for  a  site  adjacent 
to  the  site  leased  to  us  by  San  Bernardino  County,  a  new  hatchery  with 
modern  troughs  was  erected  and  fully  equipped  for  the  hatching  and 
rearing  of  trout  fry.  The  site  at  Green  Spot  Springs  is  about  twelve 
miles  from  the  egg  collecting  station  at  North  Creek.  This  is  the 
only  water  available  for  hatchery  purposes  near  Bear  Lake.     All  the 


REPORT    OF   THE   FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION.  43 

creeks  dry  up  as  the  siininici-  advances,  except  some  small  springs  used 
for  domestic  purposes. 

The  Green  Spot  Springs  rise  near  the  foot  of  Sugar  Loaf  Mountain 
and  ^low  througli  a  shallow  ravine  towards  Baldwin  Lake.  The  water 
is  used  by  tlie  Shay  Brothers,  on  their  stock  ranch  after  it  leaves  the 
hatchery.  There  is  approximately  twenty  inches  of  water  in  the  spring. 
It  is  cool  and  free  of  any  organic  substances  and  is  excellent  hatchery 
water. 

Dining  the  summer  and  fall  of  1919,  we  planned  to  make  general 
improvements  at  North  Creek  Egg  Collecting  Station  and  to  erect  a  new 
l\atehery  at  Green  Spot  Springs,  with  a  capacity  of  1,500,000  fry.  The 
work  was  begun  early  in  September,  but  owing  to  delays  in  getting 
materials,  was  not  finished  until  late  in  November.  At  the  hatchery  at 
North  Creek  p]gg  Collecting  Station,  a  portion  of  the  eggs  are  hatched 
each  season  and  the  fry  held  until  they  are  swimming  well;  then  they 
are  distributed  in  the  most  favorable  places  in  Bear  Lake,  where  there 
is  an  abundance  of  natural  food.  The  fry  can  not  be  held  in  North 
Creek  Station  later  than  the  middle  of  July  as  the  water  in  North  Creek 
fnils  by  that  time.  The  remainder  of  the  fry  reared  for  Bear  Lake  are 
h(>ld  in  the  hatchery  at  Green  Spot  Springs  until  later  in  the  season, 
when  they  are  distributed  in  the  lake  in  the  shallows  and  other  favorable 
spots.  The  condition  of  the  water  in  Bear  Lake  has  been  very  murkey 
and  discolored  for  the  last  three  seasons.  Owing  to  the  growth  of  algae 
and  its  decomposition  during  the  period  of  low  and  warm  water,  the 
fish  are  compelled  to  go  to  the  deep  water,  where  the  effects  of  the  de- 
composing algae  are  not  so  great.  The  minnows  and  aquatic  insects  are 
in  a  measure  affected  in  the  same  way  and  consequently,  they  seek  the 
depth  for  the  same  reason  that  the  trout  do.  The  trout  having  an 
abundance  of  feed  do  not  bite  well  or  take  any  kind  of  a  lure  to  a  great 
extent  during  the  warm  weather.  This  condition  will  change  when  the 
normal  amount  of  rain  and  snow  falls  on  the  water  shed  surrounding 
the  lake,  filling  the  streams  running  into  the  lake  and  thus  carrying  the 
organic  matter  away  by  the  flood  waters. 

During  the  spring  of  1918  a  total  of  3,500,000  rainbow^  trout  eggs 
wove  collected  at  the  North  Creek  Station.  Eight  hundred  thousand 
eggs  were  transferred  to  the  Bear  Lake  Hatchery  at  Green  Spot  Springs 
and  tlie  resulting  fry  were  liberated  in  Big  Bear  Lake  and  in  streams  of 
San  Bernardino  County.  The  balance  of  the  eggs  were  shipped  to 
'^^ount  Shasta,  Mount  Whitney  and  IMount  Tallac  hatcherie.s. 

Four  million  eight  hnndicd  thousand  eggs  were  collected  at  North 
Creek  Station  in  1919.  Owing  to  the  extreme  di'ought  and  unfavorable 
weather  conditions  generally,  in  the  Big  Bear  Lake  country  during  the 
spring  of  1920,  our  operations  were  practically  a  failure  as  far  as  egg 
collecting  work  wa.s  concerned.     Despite  all  of  our  new  equipment  for 


44 


REPORT    OF   THE    FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 


egg  collecting  operations  and  larger  crews  of  spawn  takers,  we  procured 
only  1,500,000  rainbow  trout  eggs.  All  of  the  eggs  taken  were  hatched 
and  reared  at  the  North  Creek  Station  and  at  the  Bear  Lake  TIatchery, 
from  which  .stations  tliey  will  he  given  a  wide  distribution  in  the  streams 
and  lakes  of  San  Bernardino  County. 

NORTH   CREEK   EGG  COLLECTING  STATION. 

The  egg  collecting  station  at  the  mouth  of  North  Creek  was  operated 
in  a  tent;  the  employees  have  also  lived  in  tents  since  the  spring  of 


Fig.  11'.  State  hatcheries  as  they  appear  wlieii  spawning  operations  begin.  In  some 
instances  employees  are  able  to  reach  the  egg-collecting  stations  by  means  of  pack 
trains,  but  in  other  instances  they  must  cover  a  considerable  distance  on  snowshoes. 
a,  ta.  Views  of  North  Creek  Station,  San  Bernardino  County,  March  25,  1920.  Photo- 
graphs by  L.  Phillips,  c.  Wawona  Platchery,  Mariposa  County,  April  15,  1920. 
Photograph  bv  M.  K.  Spaulding.  d.  Cabins  at  Almanor  Hatcliery,  Plumas  County, 
April,    1919.      Photograph  by  S.   Campbell. 

1*)15,  when  the  Fish  and  Game  Commission  first  began  the  work  of 
collecting  eggs  from  Bear  Lake. 

Bear  Lake  is  situated  at  an  elevation  of  6700  feet  above  sea  level  and 
t]ic  weather  during  March  and  April  in  this  altitude  is  severe  in  any 
locality,  particularly  so  in  the  Bear  Lake  region.  The  winds  sweep 
unbroken  over  the  deserts  until  the  air  currents  strike  the  San  Bernar- 
dino Mountains,  when  they  drive  with  relentless  fury  down  on  the  lake 


REPORT   OF    THE    FISH    AND    (JAMLI    COMMISSION.  45 

?:n(l  tlirough  the  open  timber  near  the  hike  shore  where  our  men  are 
canipod.  Snow  storms  and  s<inalls  FoHow  eat'h  other  in  rapid  succes- 
sion, during  the  eai'ly  spring'.  Our  men  endure  liardships  that  very  few 
api)reciate,  unless  they  have  spent  tlir  spring  months  in  a  tent  on  the 
sliores  of  Bear  Lake.  During  I'JID  iilans  were  made  to  build  suitable 
quarters  for  the  heli)  at  North  Creek  Egg-collecting  Station,  a  cabin 
a  new  trap  on  jNIetcalf  Creek,  and  a  cabin  and  trap  on  Grout  Creek. 
A  new  trap  was  built  in  North  Creek  and  the  egg  collecting  station  and 
hatchery  was  repaired  and  improved. 

The  principal  streams  entering  Bear  Lake,  North  Creek,  Metealf 
Creek,  Butler  Creek  and  Grout  Creek  were  filled  with  sand  from  tlie 
high  water  nuirk  on  the  lake  shore  to  the  waters  edge,  averaging  in 
length  from  one-fourth  to  one-half  mile.  The  creeks  are  all  short,  but 
carry  a  large  amount  of  granitic  sand  caused  by  the  disintegrated 
granite  fornuition  through  which  these  streams  flow.  These  creelcs  had 
been  filling  up  for  several  years,  until  in  the  spring  of  1919  it  was 
almost  impossible  for  the  breeding  trout  to  enter  them,  as  the  water 
was  spread  over  such  a  wide  area  of  sand  deposits  that  the  fish  could 
not  find  water  of  sufficient  depth  for  them  to  swim  in.  We  planned  to 
open  these  channels  so  that  the  fish  could  enter  the  streams  and  reach 
our  traps.  Teams  and  scrapers  were  hired  and  the  channels  excavated 
through  the  sand  deposits  so  that  the  water  would  have  sufficient  depth 
at  the  mouth  of  the  creeks.  The  spawning  area  above  the  traps  is  so 
small  that  it  does  not  justify  allowing  an^-  of  the  fish  to  spawn  naturally. 
The  streams  nearly  all  dr}^  up  before  the  eggs  are  hatched,  even  if  they 
are  allowed  to  ascend  the  streams  and  deposit  their  eggs.  The  majority 
of  the  eggs  deposited  by  the  breeders  below  the  traps  do  not  hatch,  as 
they  are  covered  over  with  the  sand  that  packs  so  tight  over  the  eggs 
that  they  are  smothered.  Consequently,  the  stock  of  fish  in  Bear  Lake 
must  be  kept  up  by  artificial  propagation  almost  entirely. 

Years  ago  when  the  lake  was  first  stocked  the  sand  deposits  were  not 
so  great,  as  the  flood  waters  scoured  the  streams  out  each  season,  l)ut 
during  the  last  five  or  six  years  the  sand  has  accumulated  to  such  an 
extent  tliat  the  creeks  must  be  kept  open  by  removing  the  sand  every 
two  or  three  years  so  that  the  fish  can  reach  the  traps. 

Bear  Lake  has  an  abundance  of  natural  feed  for  the  trout.  Besides 
the  minnows,  there  are  a  great  many  varieties  of  aquatic  insects  that 
abound  in  the  lake  in  great  numbers.  During  the  last  three  seasons 
of  drought,  these  insects  have  increased,  so  that  it  is  safe  to  say  that 
there  is  not  another  body  of  water  of  equal  size  anywhere  that  has  the 
same  amount  of  natural  food  for  trout. 

The  excessive  fisliing  during  the  last  five  years  on  Bear  Lake  has  no 
doubt  considerably  reduced  the  number  of  fish  in  the  lake,  although 
good  fisliing  can  be  had  when  conditions  are  right.     But  owing  to  the 


46  REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 

great  numbers  of  persons  who  fish  in  Bear  Lake  and  the  easy  manner 
in  which  the  trout  are  taken  when  conditions  are  favorable,  indicates  in 
our  judgment  the  necessity  for  a  longer  closed  season.  We  do  not 
believe  any  lake  of  the  size  of  Bear  Lake  can  stand  the  drain  on  its  fish 
supply  for  years,  without  there  being  a  marked  decrease  in  numbers  of 
adult  fish.  Bear  Lake  can  easily  be  kept  stocked  by  artificial  propaga- 
tion, but  there  is  a  limit  to  the  area  in  which  fish  can  thrive  in  Bear 
Lake  during  periods  of  low  water,  and  as  a  precautionary  measure  we 
would  recommend  that  the  people  who  have  the  greatest  interest  in 
Bear  Lake  assist  us  in  asking  the  Legislature  for  a  longer  closed  season. 

YOSEMITE    EXPERIMENTAL    STATION. 

With  the  intention  of  keeping  the  streams  of  the  Yosemite  Valley 
adequately  stocked  with  trout  fry,  the  Commission,  during  the  fall  of 
1917,  made  a  survey  of  conditions  obtaining  in  the  Valley  with  refer- 
ence to  the  establishment  of  a  hatchery.  A  suitable  site  was  obtained 
for  a  fine  hatchery  near  Happy  Isles  and  application  was  made  to  the 
Department  of  the  Interior  for  a  lease  to  the  property  required  for  our 
operations.  We  were  given  every  assurance  by  the  Yosemite  Park 
officials  that  the  Department  would  give  us  a  suitable  lease,  and  pend- 
ing the  outcome  of  negotiations  for  the  same,  we  took  advantage  of  a 
temporary  permit  granted  us  to  establish  an  experimental  hatchery 
on  the  site,  in  order  that  it  might  be  definitely  determined  as  to  the 
practicability  of  the  location  for  the  propagation  of  trout.  Arrange- 
ments were  made  with  the  State  Department  of  Engineering  for  the 
preparation  of  suitable  plans  for  the  permanent  hatchery. 

The  experimental  station  was  established  during  the  fall  and  winter 
of  1918  and  was  opened  up  for  operations  in  the  spring  of  1919.  Four 
hundred  thousand  rainbow,  black-spotted  and  steelhead  trout  eggs 
were  shipped  to  the  station  and  the  resulting  fry  were  reared  and 
planted  in  the  streams  and  lakes  of  the  Yosemite  Valley  with  the  co- 
operation of  the  Park  officials.  The  fry  were  held  in  the  hatchery  until 
the  middle  of  October  and  it  was  thoroughly  demonstrated  that  the 
location  was  in  every  manner  suitable  for  fishcultural  purposes.  The 
fry  produced  were  vigorous  and  healthy  and  attained  an  unusual  size 
in  the  few  months  that  they  were  reared  in  the  hatchery.  Owing  to 
improvements  and  repairs  being  made  at  the  other  stations,  the  work 
on  the  Yosemite  Hatchery  was  deferred  until  such  time  as  conditions 
were  more  favorable. 

WAWONA   HATCHERY. 
The  Wawona  Hatchery  was  operated  during  the  last  two  years  in 
the  building  constructed  in  1918,  on  the  site  of  the  old  hatchery.    All 
of  the  old  equipment  was  installed  in  the  new  building,  as  at  that  time, 


REPORT   OF    THE    FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION.  47 

it  was  not  possible  to  put  in  new  equipment.  Five  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  trout  fry  were  reared  at  the  station  during  the  two  years,  and 
were  distributed  in  the  streams  of  the  Yosemite  Valley  and  the  region 
ucnv  the  Wawona  Hatchery. 

All  of  the  equipment  removed  from  the  Yosemite  Experimental 
Station  was  taken  to  the  Wawona  Hatchery,  where  it  was  substituted 
for  the  old  equipment,  which  had  been  in  use  for  many  years.  With  the 
new  equipment  from  Yosemite  Station,  Wawona  is  much  better  equipped 
for  taking  care  of  the  fishery  requirements  of  that  section.  When 
it  is  possible  to  do  so,  it  is  planned  to  enlarge  and  properly  equip  this 
liatchery  so  that  a  larger  numljer  of  fry  can  be  reared  for  that  section. 

On  account  of  the  limited  number  of  trout  eggs  taken  this  season,  it 
was  possible  to  ship  only  300,000  rainbow  trout  eggs  to  Wawona  Hatch- 
ery but  this  number  are  being  held  in  the  hatchery  longer  than  usual 
and  reared  to  a  much  larger  size.  This  has  been  made  possible  by  the 
l)etter  equipment. 

KAWEAH    HATCHERY. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1919,  it  was  decided  by  the  Commission,  that 
to  adequately  stock  the  streams  of  Fresno,  Tulare  and  a  portion  of 
Kern  County,  a  hatchery  should  be  located  in  the  most  favorable 
situation  in  that  district.  Accordingly,  the  proper  investigations  were 
made  and  the  site  located  on  the  Kaweali  River,  near  the  town  of 
Hannnond.  in  Tulare  County  chosen  as  the  most  favorable  for  the 
purpose. 

The  site  is  located  on  the  property  of  the  ]Mount  Whitney  Light  and 
Power  Company,  on  the  main  highway  to  the  General  Grant  and 
Sequoia  National  Parks,  and  has  a  water  supply  which  is  most  excellent 
for  hatchery  purposes.  It  is  the  central  distributing  point  for  stocking 
the  streams  in  that  entire  section.  The  location  being  all  that  could 
be  asked  for,  an  experimental  station  was  established  to  determine  the 
suitability  of  the  water  supply  for  fisheultural  purposes.  Three  hun- 
dred thousand  rainbow,  50,000  black-spotted  and  100,000  steelhead  trout 
eggs  were  shipped  to  the  station  during  the  latter  part  of  ^lay.  The 
resulting  fry  were  reared  to  an  advanced  stage  and  were  given  a  wide 
distribution  in  the  streams  of  the  Sequoia  and  General  Grant  National 
Parks,  and  the  entire  Kaweah  River  system  during  the  months  of 
August  and  September.  The  fry  were  strong  and  vigorous  and  at  the 
time  they  were  planted,  had  attained  an  unusual  size.  It  was  demon- 
strated by  the  season's  operations  that  the  site  selected  is  entirely  satis- 
factory for  tlie  establishment  of  a  permanent  hatchery. 

Negotiations  were  entered  into  with  the  ]\Iount  Whitney  Light  and 
Power  Company,  the  owners  of  the  site,  for  a  lease  extending  over  a 

4r-7857 


48  REPORT   OP   THE  PISH   AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 

period  of  thirty  years  to  cover  the  land  necessary  for  the  establish- 
ment of  a  permanent  hatchery,  together  with  a  right  to  an  adequate 
supply  of  water.  Considerable  dififieulty  in  obtaining  a  lease  which 
would  satisfactorily  safeguard  the  interests  of  the  Commission  was 
experienced  and  the  matter  dragged  along  until  so  late  in  the  spring 
of  1920  that  there  was  not  time  to  sufficiently  complete  a  permanent 
building  in  order  to  operate  this  season.  The  matter  was  therefore 
held  in  abeyance  and  operations  for  this  season  were  carried  on  in  the 
temporary  quarters. 

This  hatchery  received  300,000  rainbow  eggs  and  the  resulting  fry 
will  be  distributed  in  the  waters  of  that  section  as  soon  as  they  have 
attained  the  proper  size.  As  soon  as  possible  after  the  fry  have  been  dis- 
tributed, construction  of  the  permanent  hatchery  will  commence. 

FISHWAYS   AND   SCREENS. 
Fishways. 

The  work  of  our  fishway  inspection  service,  has  been  retarded  some- 
what by  the  prevailing  drought  of  the  last  few  years,  but  in  spite  of 
this  and  other  obstacles,  remarkable  progress  has  been  made.  As  a 
result  of  several  improvements  on  the  types  of  fishways  made  by  our 
surveyor,  all  the  fishways  installed  under  the  plans  made  and  ap- 
proved by  this  Department  have  proved  more  efficient  and  practicable. 
Some  of  the  old  fishways  installed  several  years  ago  have  been  im- 
})roved  now,  so  that  the  fish  have  no  trouble  in  passing  them. 

The  fishway  over  the  Folsom  Dam  that  has  been  a  source  of  trouble 
for  many  years,  because  it  was  not  built  according  to  the  plan  de- 
signed, has  been  remodeled,  and  is  now  in  good  order.  The  steelhead 
trout  that  ascended  the  American  River  this  spring  had  no  trouble  in 
passing  this  dam.  Several  other  important  fishways  have  been  im- 
proved during  the  last  two  years  in  addition  to  surveys  for  eighty-two 
fishways  located  as  follows: 

Date 

1918  Xame  of  dam  Stream  County 

Jan.  3  Samoza Rector  Creek Sonoma 

.Jan.  9  State  Asylum,   Napa Rector   Creek .Napa 

Jan.  18  Merced   Falls Merced  River Merced 

Jan.  19  Crocker  Hoffman Merced  River Merced 

Jan.  22  Crescent  Weir Kings  River Kings 

Jan.  23  Peoples   Weir   Kings  River Kings 

Feb.  1  Lucerne  Water  Company Shasta  River Siskiyou 

Feb.  3  Wm.  Rupert Bear  Creek Shasta 

Feb.  3  Sheridan .Bear  Creek Sliasta 

Feb.  14  Kittridge Merced  River Mariposa 

F'eb.  27  Playter  Dam San  Lorenzo  River Santa  Cruz 

Feb.  27  Riverdale  Dam San  Lorenzo  River Santa  Cruz 

Feb.  27  Wildwood  No.  2 San  Lorenzo  River Santa  Cruz 

Feb.  27  San  Jose  Water  Company Los  Gatos  Creek Santa  Clara 

Feb.  27  San  Jose  Water  Company Cavanaugh    Santa  Clara 

Mar.  5  Gilroy  Water  Company Uvas  Creek Santa  Clara 

Mar.  5  Matteis  Dam Uvas  Creek Santa  Clara 

Mar.  5  Sepeda  Dam Uvas  Creek Santa  Clara 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND   GAME    COMMISSION.  49 


Date 

1918  Name  of  dam  Stream  County 

Apr.  17  High  School  Dam San  Luis  Creek San  Luis  ObLspo 

Apr.  17  Jackson   Dam San  Luis  Creek San  Luis  Obispo 

Apr.  17  City  Dam San  Luis  Creek San  Luis  Obispo 

Apr.  17  Banning  Dam San   Luis  Creek San  Luis  Obispo 

Apr.  18  P.   Tognazini . Cayucos   Creek San  I..uis  Obispo 

Apr.  18  Ida  Tognazini Cayucos  Crock San  Luis  Obispo 

Apr.  18  J.  Gnesa Oi<is  Creek Siin  Luis  Obispo 

Apr.  18  A.    Storni   Olds  Creek San  Luis  Obispo 

May  2  Murphy  Dam  (Sloat) Long  Valley  Creek Plumas 

May  6  Western  Power  Company  Dam Estray  Creek Plumas 

June  17  Cello  Dam Little   Truckee El  Dorado 

June  17  Kent  Dam Wards    Creek Placer 

June  IS  Hobart  Dam   Independence    Nevada 

June  18  Truckee  Light  and  Power  Dam Truckee  River Nevada 

June  18  Pacific  Fruit  Express  Dam Donner  Creek Nevada 

June  18  H.  G.  May Cold   Stream    Placer 

July  13  Sutter  Butte  Dam Feather  River Butte 

July  28  Barker  Dam Kidder   Creek Siskiyou 

July  28  Wriglit  Dam Kidder   Creek Siskiyou 

July  30  Mallow  Dam   Mofflt  Creek Siskiyou 

July  31  Grouse   Creek Scott   River Siskiyou 

Aug.  10  Goodwin    Dam   Stanislaus  River Calaveras 

Aug.  11  Melones   Dam   Stanislaus  River Calaveras 

Aug.  17  F.  W.  Hickox  Dam Uvas    Creek    Santa  Clara 

Aug.  17  Giles    Bradley   Uvas    Creek    Santa  Clara 

Aug.  17  Upper  Gilroy  Water  Company Uvas    Creek    Santa  Clara 

Aug.  17  Lower  Gilroy  Water  Company Uvas    Creek    Santa  Clara 

1919 

Feb.  25  Pastorris  Dam San    Anselmo    Marin 

Feb.  26  Saint  Helena  Water  Company Rock  Creek — _  Napa 

Mar.  6  Government  Dam Merced  River Mariposa 

Mar.  12  Krobitsch    Dam    San  Gregorlo San  Mateo 

Mar.  17  Filmore    Irrigation    Dam    Sespe  River Ventura 

Apr.  2  Mendota  Weir   San  Joaquin  River Fresno 

Apr.  8  Wm.  Watt  Dam Millican  Creek Napa 

Apr.  10  Intake  Dam F'eather  River Butte 

Apr.  25  Neck   Dam Hayward  Creek Amador 

Apr.  28  W^alters  Dam Chorro  Creek San  Luis  Obispo 

Apr.  28  Biaggimi  Dam Cayucos  Creek San  Luis  Obispo 

Apr.  29  J.  Quintana  Dam San  Suitro  Creek San  Luis  Obispo 

Apr.  29  Griggs    Dam   Sea  Canyon  Creek San  Luis  Obispo 

May  4  Ganby  Dam Cachagua  Creek San  Luis  Obispo 

May  16  Pudding  Creek  Dam Pudding  Creek Mendocino 

May  17  Lower  Greenwood  Dam Greenwood  Creek Mendocino 

May  17  Upper  Greenwood  Dam Greenwood  Creek Mendocino 

May  25  Golden   Dam Salmon  River Siskiyou 

May  26  Bonally    Dam    Salmon  River Siskiyou 

May  28  Beaudry  Dam Scott  River Siskiyou 

May  31  Redding  Dam Sacramento   River Shasta 

Aug.  2  Bablieu   Mines  Dam Rush    Creek    Trinity 

Aug.  9  Little   River  Dam Little  River Humboldt 

Sept.  29  Western  Canal  Dam Butte  Creek Butte 

Sept.  29  State  Land  Settlement Butte  Creek Butte 

Oct.  4  Rowardeman  Dam San  Lorenzo Santa  Cruz 

Oct.  4  Knowles   Dam Love  Creek Santa  Cruz 

Oct.  4  Southern  Lumber  Company San  Lorenzo Santa  Cruz 

Oct.  6  Loma  Prieta  Dam Aptos  Creek Santa  Cruz 

Nov.  18  Kern  River  Dam Kern   River Kern 

Dec.  28  Hazel   Creek Hazel  Creek Shasta 

Jan.  15  Stinson  Weir By  pass Fresno 

Jan.  27  Folsom   Dam   American  River El   Dorado 

Jan.  29  Truckee  River Truckee  River Nevada 

May  12  Red   River   Lumber   Company Hamilton  Branch Lassen 

July  6  Gray    Eagle   Dam   Gray  Eagle  Creek Plumas 

July  7  Slaot  Dam Long  Valley  Creek Plumas 

The  work  of  maintaining  efficient  fishways  over  dams  becomes  more 
important  each  season,  as  the  number  of  dams  being  built  liy  the  hydro- 
electric plants  and  irrigationists  are  increasing  very  rapidly.     Every 


50  REPORT    OP   THE   FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 

time  that  a  dam  is  constructed,  the  natural  movements  of  the  fish  are 
obstructed  and  the  fish  in  that  stream  are  affected  by  it. 

The  fish  in  the  great  majority  of  our  streams  ascend  the  streams  dur- 
ing the  spawning  season  to  reach  their  natural  and  most  favorable 
breeding  places.  They  also  move  from  one  part  of  the  stream  to 
another  in  search  of  food,  as  well  as  to  adapt  themselves  to  temperature 
conditions.  The  fish  descend  to  the  lower  reaches  of  the  large  rivers 
that  drain  the  Sacramento,  San  Joaquin,  Kings,  Kern,  Kaweah,  Tule, 
Klamath,  Eel  and  other  river  basins  during  the  fall  and  winter,  when 
the  water  is  cool,  and  ascend  these  streams  when  the  temperature  of  the 
water  rises  in  early  summer.  If  their  movements  are  obstructed  by 
dams,  the  natural  propagation  is  seriously  interfered  with  as  well 
as  their  movements  to  the  upper  reaches  of  the  streams  when  the  tem- 
perature rises.  It  is  essential  that  proper  fisliways  be  constructed 
to  allow  of  the  free  passageway  of  the  fish  as  the  law  provides.  The 
amount  of  water  necessary  to  allow  fish  to  ascend  the  fishways  and  pass 
above  the  dams  is  very  small  compared  with  the  normal  flow  of  any 
stream.  Spring  and  fall,  the  period  of  the  year  when  the  fish  are 
moving,  is  the  period  of  the  maxiinum  flow  in  the  majority  of  the 
streams,  and  there  is  always  sufficient  water  for  the  fishways,  as  well 
as  for  the  power  plants  and  irrigationists. 

There  is  a  tendency  on  the  part  of  some  of  the  water-users  to  take 
all  the  w^ater  from  the  streams  regardless  of  the  fish  life  that  is 
destroyed.  While  we  realize  the  importance  of  the  water  to  generate 
electricity  and  for  irrigation  purposes,  there  is  always  enough  in  our 
streams  to  allows  the  migratory  fishes  to  ascend  the  streams  above  the 
dams  at  the  time  they  are  naturally  inclined  to  do  so.  In  a  great  many 
instances  where  large  dams  are  constructed,  and  lakes  formed,  the 
fishing  area  is  increased  instead  of  diminished,  if  the  owners  of  the 
dams  will  allow  the  public  the  right  to  fish  in  the  w^aters  stored  behind 
their  dams.  The  provision  in  Section  637,  relative  to  the  "right  to  fish" 
in  any  of  the  waters  impounded  by  dams  should  be  rigidly  enforced 
as  the  owners  of  the  dams  deprive  the  public  of  valuable  waters  by 
the  construction  of  dams,  even  if  enough  water  is  allowed  to  pass  the 
dam,  to  maintain  fish  life. 

The  flows  of  the  streams  are  generally  reduced  to  such  an  extent 
below  the  dams  that  the  value  of  the  stream  for  angling  purposes  is 
greatly  reduced,  partieuhirly  during  the  period  of  the  minimum 
flow  in  the  late  summer  and  fall.  Therefore,  the  owners  of  dams  should 
be  compelled  to  allow  the  public  to  flsh  in  all  waters  held  in  storage  or 
w^here  it  is  dammed  up  for  any  purpose,  as  the  right  of  the  public  to 
fish  in  the  waters  of  the  state  should  not  be  denied.  It  is  one  of  the 
greatest  sources  of  recreation  known  and  is  growing  more  popular  with 
all  classes  every  season. 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH    AND   GAME    COMMISSION.  51 

Screens. 

During  the  last  two  seasons  it  has  been  very  difficult  to  install  screens, 
owing  to  the  droimht  that  has  prevailed  all  ovcf  tlic  state  for  the  past 
three  years,  but  in  spite  of  the  difficulties,  we  have  managed  to  have 
some  important  screens  installed  as  well  as  to  have  others,  which  were 
installed  several  years  ago,  nuiintaiiicd  in  ^'ood  order. 

The  large  pumping  plants  that  take  their  water  supply  from  the 
Sacramento  Kiver  for  the  rice  fields  have  been  examined  from  time  to 
time  and  it  has  been  found  that  the  screens  that  have  been  installed  are 
very  effective.  Our  screen  inspector  has  made  regular  trips,  examining 
and  reporting  on  the  condition  of  all  the  pumping  plants,  ditches,  and 
canals  in  the  different  sections  of  the  state.  A  large  portion  of  his 
time  has  been  given  to  the  district  north  of  Sacramento,  as  this  is  the 
most  important  field.  Several  types  of  screen  are  used,  depending  on 
the  location  and  general  conditions. 

The  majority  of  the  owners  of  pumping  plants  and  canals  have  met 
our  requests  to  screen  their  intakes  without  opposition.  A  few  have 
been  lax  in  their  cooperation  with  this  Department,  but  we  are  pleased 
to  state  that  they  are  in  the  minority. 

Surveys  and  legal  notices  to  install  screens  for  the  biennial  period 

ending  July  1,  1920,  in  the  different  counties,  numbered  171.     They 

were  made  as  follows: 

Alpiue 11 

Butte    7 

Calaveras     4 

Colusa    2 

El  Dorado G 

Glenn    5 

Inyo    27 

Kern 1 

Lake    1 

Lassen    1 

Mono    28 

Placer  1 

Riverside    4 

Sacramento   6 

Sierra  2 

San  Bernardino 1 

Shasta    3 

Siskiyou   41 

Stanislaus    5 

Sutter 1 

Tehama    4 

Trinity : . 2 

Tuolumne 2 

Yolo    . 4 

171 

The  follow  up  work  by  the  Legal  Department  has  been  very  satis- 
factory. Very  few  hearings  were  held  as  most  of  the  owners  of  ditches 
and  canals  realize  the  importance  of  conserving  the  fish  and  as  a  rule 
do  not  resist  efforts  to  have  efficient  screens  installed. 

There  is  one  part  of  the  present  law  regarding  screens  and  fishways 
that  we  would  respectfully  recommend  the  Legislature  to  repeal,  and 


52  REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND   GAME    COMMISSION. 

that  is  that  part  of  Section  629  and  637  relating  to  hearings.  We 
would  suggest  that  whenever  tliere  is  a  difference  of  opinion  between 
this  Department  and  the  owners  of  a  ditch,  pumping  plant,  canal  or 
dam,  regarding  the  advisability  of  installing  either  a  fishway  or  a 
screen,  that  the  case  be  taken  directly  to  the  Superior  Court,  which  is 
the  proper  tribunal  to  determine  whether  the  ditch,  canal  or  intake 
should  be  screened,  or  a  fishway  constructed. 

In  our  judgment  the  liearings  held  by  our  Commission  under  the 
present  law  are  not  satisfactory.  Before  ordering  anyone  to  install  a 
screen  or  fishway,  we  make  an  investigation  and  satisfy  ourselves  of  the 
necessity  of  the  expense.  Therefore,  we  deem  it  a  waste  of  time  and 
money  to  hold  hearings  before  one  of  our  employees  to  satisfy  the 
demand  of  some  one  for  a  hearing.  If  any  of  the  owners  of  ditches, 
canals  or  dams  are  not  satisfied  or  question  the  necessity  of  installing  a 
screen  or  fishway  on  their  particular  property,  they  have  their  redress 
in  the  courts,  where  all  such  cases  will  eventually  end,  if  the  persons  on 
whom  legal  notices  have  been  served  resist  the  orders  to  install  screens 
and  fishways. 

There  never  was  a  time  in  the  history  of  our  state  when  legislation, 
to  conserve  our  fish  by  the  installation  of  proper  screens  and  fishways 
is  needed  more  than  at  the  present  time,  owing  to  the  great  amount  of 
water  that  is  being  diverted  for  agricultural  and  industrial  purposes. 
The  fish  can  be  saved  without  material  injury  or  damage  to  the  hydro- 
electric plants  and  the  irrigationists  if  proper  and  stringent  laws  are 
passed  and  enforced,  as  all  plans  for  fishways  and  screens  are  prac- 
ticable and  efficient. 

In  some  instances  we  have  found  the  district  attorneys  were  not  in 
favor  of  prosecution  for  violations  of  these  laws,  but  it  was  generally 
found  to  be  a  matter  of  politics  more  than  any  just  reason  for  not 
standing  by  the  rights  of  the  people. 

The  fish  of  the  inland  waters,  both  food  and  game  species,  are  one 
of  our  most  valuable  assets  and  everyone  concerned  in  the  progress  of 
our  state  should  assist  in  protecting  and  conserving  them. 

PLANTING  FOOD  FOR  TROUT. 
In  some  of  the  lakes  of  the  southern  High  Sierra  and  in  the  Tahoe 
Basin,  attempts  to  introduce  aquatic  insects  where  the  waters  were 
barren  of  certain  species  have  been  made.  The  large  Corydalis,  or 
salmon  fly,  has  been  introduced  into  several  streams  running  into  Lake 
Tahoe,  during  the  last  two  seasons  and  our  foreman  reports  that  they 
are  thriving.  In  the  lakes  of  the  southern  High  Sierra  where  all  kinds 
of  insect  food  is  secured  aquatic  plants  and  the  scuds  or  gammarus  have 
been  planted.    We  have  not  received  any  reports  regarding  the  success 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH    AND    GAME   COMMISSION.  53 

of  tliis  work  as  yet.    It  may  be  that  the  aquatic  plants  will  need  to  be 
well  established  before  the  success  of  this  work  is  assured. 

It  is  the  plan  of  this  department  to  take  up  this  work  systematically 
(luriny:  the  next  season  and  stock  witli  insects  and  aquatic  plants  certain 
lakes  that  need  an  added  stock  of  luitural  food.  Examinations  will 
be  made  to  determine  the  larva;  of  the  different  species  that  abound  in 
the  lakes  that  seem  to  require  an  added  amount  of  natural  food  and 
new  species  will  be  inti-odiiccd  wherever  the  conditions  justify  the 
expense.  This  is  an  inqiortant  woik  and  slioidd  l)e  carried  on  system- 
atically each  season  so  that  the  liest  results  luay  be  attaiiu'd. 

COOPERATION    WITH    THE    WATER    COMMISSION. 

We  respectfully  recommend  that  an  act  be  i)assed  by  the  coming 
session  of  the  Legislature  that  will  arrange  for  the  coordination  and 
cooperation  of  the  Water  Commission  with  the  Fish  and  Game  Commis- 
sion in  regard  to  appropriated  waters.  It  should  be  understood  and 
agreed  that  the  fish  in  certain  streams  of  the  state  be  allowed  water 
enough  to  survive  during  the  mininmm  flow  of  late  summer  and  fall. 

The  State  Water  Connnission  should  be  authorized  to  force  all  appli- 
cants for  water  appropriations  to  comply  with  the  law  regarding  fish- 
ways  before  accepting  any  plans  for  diversion  of  the  water.  The 
applicant  for  water  rights  should  have  the  plan  of  the  fishway  made 
and  approved  by  the  Fish  and  Game  Commission  strictly  in  conformity 
with  the  law  before  granting  applicants  the  right  to  appropriate  water 
from  any  river  or  stream. 

The  rights  of  the  people  should  be  safe-guarded  as  far  as  possible 
when  not  detrimental  to  greater  interests.  No  stream  should  be  entirely 
diverted  without  some  effort  being  made  to  protect  the  rights  of  the  peo- 
ple. There  are  cases  now  where  the  entire  flow  of  water  has  been  taken 
without  any  consideration  for  the  fish  life  in  the  stream.  The  valuable 
food  and  game  fishes  of  California  should  be  protected  as  well  as  all 
other  interests  and  it  can  be  done  without  injury  to  the  hydro-electric 
plants  or  the  irrigationists,  if  the  Water  Commission  and  the  Fish  and 
Game  Commission  cooperate  in  the  plans  of  allowing  sufficient  water 
to  pass  the  dams  on  the  larger  streams  during  the  period  of  minimum 
flow  as  well  as  to  see  that  plans  for  efficient  fishways  are  made  by  the 
Fish  and  Game  Commission  before  the  appropriations  are  granted. 

A  great  many  other  recommendations  will  be  made  during  the  session 
of  the  Legislature  regarding  changes  in  the  trout  and  salmon  seasons, 
and  means  of  strengthening  by  amending  some  of  our  present  laws 
regarding  other  subjects. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

(Signed)     W.  H.  Shebley, 
In  Clmrge,  Department  of  Fishcultvre. 


S4  REPORT   OP   THE  FISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 

REPORT  OF  DEPARTMENT  OF  COMMERCIAL  FISHERIES. 

The  Ilonorahlc  Board  of  Fish  and  Game  Commissioners  of  ihe  State  of 
California. 

Sirs:  The  growth  of  California's  fisheries  in  the  past  few  years  has 
been  rapid  and  spectacular.  So  very  recent  has  been  this  growth  that 
few  in  this  state  realize  that  we  have  gained  first  place  in  the  list  of 
states  both  in  the  quantity  and  value  of  our  fishery  products.  In  1919 
California  produced  over  250,000,000  pounds  of  fish  and  about  8,000,000 
pounds  of  shell  fish.  These  fish  had  a  wholesale  value  as  fresh  fish  and 
manufactured  products  of  over  $25,000,000. 

If  this  great  industry  is  to  be  fostered  and  the  exhaustion  of  any 
of  the  varieties  of  fish  upon  which  it  depends  guarded  against,  and 
if  at  the  same  time  the  fishery  resources  of  the  state  are  to  be  ade- 
quately utilized  and  the  industry  expanded  along  proper  lines,  it  is 
necessar}^  to  carry  on  a  great  deal  of  investigation  work  and  to  get 
intelligent  legislation  and  to  see  that  the  conservation  laws  are  enforced. 
The  state,  which  has  sole  jurisdiction  over  its  fisheries  and  is  alone 
responsible  for  their  protection,  has  charged  the  Fish  and  Game  Com- 
mission with  this  conservation  work.  As  the  state  laws  defining  the 
duty  of  the  Fish  and  Game  Commission  in  regard  to  fisheries  investi- 
gation work  were  not  very  definite,  the  Legislature  of  1919  passed  the 
following  law : 

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  commercial  fishes ;  to  make  such  investigations  of  the  biology  of 
the  various  species  of  fish  as  will  guide  in  the  collection  and  preparation  of  the 
statistical  information  necessary  to  determine  evidence  of  overfishing ;  to  make 
such  investigations  as  will  bring  to  light  as  soon  as  possible  those  evidences  of  over- 
fishing as  are  shown  by  changes  in  the  age  groups  of  any  variety  of  fish  ;  to  deter- 
mine what  measures  may  be  advisable  to  conserve  any  fishery,  or  to  enlarge  and 
assist  any  fishery  where  that  may  be  done'  without  danger  to  the  supply. 

This,  together  with  laws  which  provide  the  means  for  gathering  com- 
plete and  accurate  statistics  of  the  fisheries,  as  well  as  laws  which  pro- 
vide a  revenue  from  the  fisheries,  puts  the  fisheries  conservation  work 
of  the  state  on  a  firm  and  definite  foundation,  and  assures  the  continu- 
ation of  investigation  work  which  owes  most  of  its  value  to  the  fact  that 
it  is  continuous. 

To  the  Department  of  Commercial  Fisheries  falls  the  duty  of  carrying 
out  the  commercial  fisheries  work  of  the  Commission. 

STATISTICS    OF    THE    FISHERIES. 

In  the  appendix  to  this  report  will  be  found  statistical  tables  gathered 
and  compiled  by  this  department  which  show  in  detail  the  magnitude 
of  California's  fisheries.  Complete  recent  statistics  of  most  of  the  other 
states  are  lacking  but  we  believe  none  will  contest  California's  claim  to 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH    AND   GAME    COMMISSION. 


55 


first  place  in  both  quantity  of  catch  and  value  of  its  fishery  products. 
Only  six  years  ago  slie  lidd  a  place  of  insignificance  among  the  states 
in  value  of  her  fisheries. 


1919      Pounds 

Sardine lo.'S.SSo.uou 

All  Fish 2«a,2l>0,000 

1918 

Sardine 157.650.000 

All  Fish 259.100.000 

1917 

Sardine lOl.inn.nnn 

All  Fish 211.500,000 

1916 

Sardine 15.R50.00n 

AU  ITsh 93.530.000 


Sardine 


Salmon 


Alhacore 
and  Tuna 

E33 


AU  Others 


^~ 

^^^^^^^HV-~.  . . 

J:^^ 

^-i 

^^^I^^^^^^^^lr..",".  '^ 

^o?5?> 

^^■' 

— 

^^^■11- 

m          W-'- 

i^yy 

- 

— 

■ 

■          -------- ?§§§^ 

- 

■ 

EJ 

'"^ 

.^..iJLL. 

1919     Pounds 

Sulinoii 1."!. 150,000 

Alb.  &  Tuna    31,140,000 
All    others..  64,100,000 

1918 

.Salmon 13.030.000 

All..  &  Tuna    13.500.000 
All    others..  71,U20,000 

1917 

Salmon 11,010.000 

Alb.  &  Tuna   30.560.000 
All    others..  65.830,000 

1916 

Salmon 10,840.000 

Alb.  &  Tuna    22.900.000 
All    others..  44,200,000 


Fig.  13.  The  growth  of  the  sardine  fishery. 
Quantities  landed  as  compared  to  those  for 
other  species. 


MONTEREY 


SAN  PEDRO 


SAN  DIEGO 


J 

\ 

-'  ■ 

..■< 

^. 

V  _^ 

^ 

^ 

^^ 

,' 

^ 

^ 

^ 

r^ 

■■•.» 

/ 

r' 

* 

^ 

^ 

"^ 

\ 

/ 

'a 

r^ 

x*' 

y 

X 

^<' 

^ 

1 

r^ 

<^ 

.... 

•  •••' 

....( 

\... 

•  •  •  • 

..  •• 

...^^ 

1 

L 

( 

.... 

. ... 

•  * 

C.S.f 

.U 

1916  Pounds 
Monterey  .10.459,029 
San  Pedro.  2,592,370 
San  Diego.  2,551.026 


1917  Pounds 
Monterey  .41,621,150 
San  Pedro.52, 615,300 
San  Diego.  9.718,336 


1918  Pounds 
Monterey  .64.915,002 
San  Pedro.78.077.612 
San  Dlego.l3.207,2G5 


1919  Pounds 
Monterey  .81,447,280 
San  Pedro.54.G00,194 
San   Diego.11,183,539 


Fig.   14,     Sardines  landed  at  Monterey,  San  Pedro  and  San  Diego. 


SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA 
NORTHERN    CALIFORNIA 


1916 

Southern    ..    552.609 
Northern    —    196,104 


1917 

Southern    ..1,538.122 
Northern    „    480,111 


1918  1919 

Southern    -.1,385,202     Southern    ..1,166,435 
Northern    —    729,100     Northern    ..    905,206 


Fig.   15,     Comparison  of  cases  of  fish  of  all  kinds  packed  in  northern 

and  southern  California. 


56 


REPORT   OP  THE   FISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 


The  greatest  growth  has  taken  place  in  the  tuna  and  sardine  fisheries. 
The  accompanying  graphic  charts  show  the  growtli  of  the  principal 
fisheries  during  the  years  from  1916  to  1919,  inclusive. 


1916   1917   1918   1919 


ALL    FISH    CANNED    IN 
CALIFORNIA    BY    CASES 

Northern         SoutliL'rn 

Ulii,104 

480,111 

72n,100 

905,206 


1111 1! 
1917. 
1918 
1919 


522, COV 
1,538,122 
1.385,202 
1,166,435 


VALUE   OF    FISH 

PACKING 

PLANTS 

Northern 

Southern 

191G..    $860,590 

$948,702 

1917.-       786,197 

2,573,453 

1918-.  1,569,330 

4,089,660 

1919--  2,272,514 

5,436,357 

SYSTEM   FOR  GATHERING  FISHERIES  STATISTICS. 

As  statistics  must  be  the  basis  of  all  earnest  fisheries  conservation 
work,  this  department  early  in  its  history    began    gathering    data    of 

the  catch.  L  a  w  .s  were 
passed  requiring  fish  deal- 
ers and  packers  to  submit 
monthly  reports  of  the  fish 
catch  by  varieties.  Later 
it  was  realized  that  to  be 
of  the  greatest  service  to 
tlie  fisheries  investigator 
such  data  must  be  made 
more  complete  and  accur- 
ate than  is  possible  by  that 
method.  Therefore,  a  sys- 
tem was  inaugurated  which 
lias  w^orked  out  in  an  en- 
tirely satisfactory  manner. 
At  first  the  data  under 
this  system  was  furnished 
voluntarily  by  the  indus- 
try, but  in  order  to  make 
it  permanent  a  law  was 
enacted  by  the  State  Leg- 
islature in  1919,  which, 
makes  the  giving  of  the 
data  compulsory.  Every 
effort  is  being  exerted  to 
make  this  data  as  accurate 
as  possible,  realizing  that 
accuracy  is  the  main 
requisite  of  the  investiga- 
tor. Such  data  increases 
greatly  in  value  with  the  passing  years.  As 
this  system  of  gathering  the  data  of  the  catch 
is  unique  and  superior  to  that  employed  by 
any  government  or  state  fisheries  board,  we 

quote  the  law  governing  it : 

Sec.  2.  Every  person,  firm  or  corporation  engaged 
in  tlie  business  of  buying,  canning,  curing  or  preserv- 
ing fish,  or  manufacturing  fisli  meal,  fisli  oil  or  fish 
fertilizer,  or  dealing  in  fish,  mollusks  or  crustaceans, 
shall  make  a  legible  record  in  the  form  of  a  receipt, 
said  record  to  be  in  triplicate  carbon  copies  and  on  forms  to  be  furnished  by  the  Fish 
and  Game  Commission,  which  shall  show  the  name  of  the  fisherman  and  boat  or  the 
dealer  from  which  the  fish,  mollusks  or  crustaceans  were  received,  together  with  the 
date  received,  the  weight  of  the  fish,  mollusks  or  crustaceans  by  species,  the  price 
received  by  the  fishermen  and  the  name  of  the  person  receiving  same. 

It  shall  be  stated  in  the  record  for  what  use  the  fish  are  intended,  whether  to  be 
sold  fresh  or  whether  they  are  to  be  canned,  cured,  made  into  fish  meal  or  fertilizer, 
or  any  other  disposition  to  be  made  of  them,  or  if  a  commercial  distinction  is  made 


NUMBER     OF     EMPLOYEES 

IN    fISH    PACKING 

PLANTS 

Northern 

SouUiern 

1916._          1.573 

2.289 

1917-.          3.090 

3,261 

IfllS--          3.829 

4.2in 

1919_-          3,123 

5.119 

1916     1917     1918     1919 

.......NORTHERN    CALIFORNIA 

SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA 

Fig.  16.  Comparison  of 
number  of  cases  canned, 
value  of  packing  plants  and 
number  of  employees. 


REPORT   OP   THE   FISH   AND    GAME    COMMISSION.  57  ' 

bptwoon  (lifTin-ont  sizes  or  (nialiti-s  of  any  sijfcios  or  variety,  it  must  be  so  stated 
on  said  record  or  receipt,  and  the  record  shall  also  state  if  the  fish  wore  taken  in 
foreign  waters,  or  in  the  high  seas  off  another  state  or  foreign  country.  The  names 
used  in  the  record  for  designating  the  variety  or  species  of  fish  handled  must  1)C  the 
luinie  which  is  in  common  usage,  and  tlie  Fish  and  Game  Commission  shall  have 
the  power  to  deride  whtit  is  the  common  usage  name  of  any  variety. 

The  original  copy  of  this  record  shall  he  delivered  to  the  fisherman  at  the  time 
of  the  purchase  or  receipt  of  the  fish,  the  duplicate  copy  shall  be  kept  by  the  dealer 
or  person  receiving  the  fish  and  the  triplicate  copy  shall  be  delivered  to  the  Fish  and 
Game  Commission  or  any  duly  authorized  assistant  thereof. 

Where  a  fish  dealer,  canner  or  i)roserver  catches  liis  own  fish,  he  shall  fill  out 
the  above  record  as  required  when  he  purchases  the  fisii  from  fisherman  or  dealer, 
or  if  it  so  desires  the  Fish  and  Game  Commission  may  furnish  a  separate  form  for 
such  cases.  It  shall  he  the  duty  of  the  Fish  and  Game  Commission  to  preserve  all 
such  records  of  the  fisheries  as  are  obtained  by  it  in  places  adequately  safeguarded 
from  fire  or  other  destructive^  agencies  and  such  records  are  to  be  kept  in  such 
manner  as  to  render  them  accessible  for  reference  or  research,  the  intention  being 
to  guard  against  the  destruction  or  such  neglect  of  the  records  as  will  detract  from 
their  future   value. 

This  system  is  now  in  use  all  over  the  state  and  from  the  records 
gatliered  can  be  obtained  the  daily  catch  of  any  variety  of  fish  by  any 
boat,  which,  it  will  be  realized,  is  of  the  greatest  value  in  keeping  track 
of  the  trend  of  any  fishery  and  in  detecting  any  evidences  of  depletion. 
Supplementing  this  data  must  be  a  record  of  the  boats  and  the  fishing 
gear  used,  therefore  a  section  of  the  same  law  recjuires  that  every  boat 
fishing  in  the  state  or  out  of  any  port  in  the  state,  must  file  with  the 
Fish  and  Game  Commission  a  statement  giving  the  dimensions  of  the 
boat,  the  motive  power,  number  in  crew,  equipment  and  description  of 
fishing  gear. 

A  section  of  the  law  also  provides  that  large  fishing  vessels,  such  as 
otter  or  beam  trawls  or  those  operating  paranzella  nets  can  be  required 
to  keep  a  record  of  their  trips,  number  and  place  of  hauls  and  quantities 
of  each  variety  of  fish  caught  in  each. 

Fisheries  data  is  being  gathered  and  tabulated  under  these  laws  and 
published  in  the  Commission's  quarterly  magazine  California  Fish 
AND  Game.  The  permanent  records  in  the  form  of  the  triplicate  receipts 
of  the  catch  and  the  boat  registration  cards  are  being  filed  in  such  man- 
ner that  they  may  be  of  the  greatest  good  to  the  fisheries  investigator 
when  they  may  be  needed.  Tlie  need  of  a  building  for  the  filing  of  these 
records  where  thej"  Avill  be  safeguarded  from  destruction  by  fire  or 
other  causes  as  required  by  the  law,  as  well  as  to  provide  a  proper  place 
for  investigators  to  work,  is  taken  up  elsewhere  under  the  title,  "A 
State  Fisheries  Laboratory. ' ' 

During  the  principal  fishing  seasons  the  data  of  the  catch  of  some  of 
the  fisheries  have  been  gathered  and  tabulated  daily  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  fish  packers.  During  the  present  year  the  catch  of  the 
more  important  canning  varieties  have  been  tabulated  four  times  a 
month  for  the  use  of  canners  of  the  San  Diego,  San  Pedro  and  ^Monterey 
districts. 


58  REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 

To  gatlier  the  statistics  of  the  catch,  to  register  the  boats  and  fishing 
gear  and  to  do  the  necessary  tabulating,  has  necessitated  putting  on  an 
extra  assistant  in  tlie  branch  offices  of  the  Department  of  Commercial 
Fisheries  in  San  Diego,  San  Pedro  and  Monterey,  as  well  as  an  extra 
statistical  assistant  in  the  San  Francisco  office.  It  is  difficult  to  estimate 
the  cost  of  this  system  of  gathering  the  records  of  the  catch  as  each 
statistical  assistant  has  other  duties  to  perform  which  have  little  to  do 
with  statistics  and  as  assistants  in  other  lines  give  some  help 
in  gathering  the  records.  But,  as  we  have  had  several  inquiries  as 
to  the  cost  of  the  system,  we  have  estimated  it  as  near  as  we  can.  The 
books  of  receipts  which  are  furnished  the  dealers  and  packers  are  cost- 
ing us  approximately  $485  a  year.  It  will  be  fair  to  charge  to  the  sys- 
tem the  services  of  one  assistant  at  the  four  fishing  centers,  San  Diego, 
San  Pedro,  Monterey  and  San  Francisco,  which  with  traveling  expenses 
will  amount  to  approximately  $650  a  month.  Any  state  adopting  the 
system  would  require  one  assistant  at  each  fishing  center.  Each  should 
have  a  suitable  place  to  Avork  upon  the  tabulations  and  should  be  pro- 
vided with  adding  machines.  This  covers  only  the  cost  of  gathering  the 
records  and  roughly  tabulating  them.  To  work  out  the  boat  catches 
for  conservation  purposes  is  work  for  the  investigator.  A  proper  place 
should  be  provided  for  storing  the  triplicate  receipts  in  such  a  manner 
that  they  may  be  readily  accessible  for  future  study  and  w^here  they 
will  be  safe  from  destruction  or  damage.  On  account  of  the  large 
number  of  small  boats  fishing,  California  uses  more  triplicate  receipt 
books  than  would  be  used  where  larger  catches  per  boat  are  made. 

INVESTIGATION. 

Our  statistical  program  is  only  a  part  of  the  work.  While  it  is  the 
basis  upon  which  much  of  the  work  of  the  investigator  must  rest,  it 
must  be  supplemented  by  a  study  of  the  biology  of  the  species  upon 
which  our  principal  fisheries  depend.  The  investigations  are  not  being 
conducted  merely  through  a  scientific  interest  in  the  species  dealt  with; 
they  are  conducted  for  the  primary  purpose  of  conservation  and  the 
intelligent  expansion  of  the  fisheries.  The  investigations  are  all  based 
on  the  needs  of  the  fisheries  and  in  all  there  is  a  well  defined  program 
which  has  been  arrived  at  through  the  experiences  of  fisheries  investiga- 
tors of  this  and  other  countries.  The  object  and  method  of  the  investi- 
gation work  has  been  stated  very  fully  in  the  Fish  and  Game  Commis- 
sion's Fish  Bulletin  No.  2  by  W.  F.  Thompson,  entitled  "The  Scientific 
Investigation  of  Marine  Fisheries,  as  Related  to  the  AVork  of  the  Fish 
and  Game  Commission  in  Southern  California."  We  will  not  discuss 
here  the  needs  of  scientific  investigations  or  the  methods  of  the  work  as 
they  are  given  full  treatment  in  this  Bulletin. 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION.  59 

Albacore   Investigations. 

The  investij^ation  work  on  the  albacore  or  longfinned  tuna  has  pro- 
o^ressod  under  ^\r.  W.  P.  Thompson  and  his  assistants  until  now  very 
definite  i-esults  have  been  ol)t;iiiie(l  and  are  bciiiir  prepai'ed  for  publica- 
tion. 

Very  complete  data  liave  hecii  ir.ithered  fi'om  the  very  l)eginning  of 
the  albacore  indu.stry  and  lliis  wealth  of  material,  more  extensive  we 
believe  than  that  ever  gathered  from  any  one  tisheiy,  is  in  its  final 
analysis  disclosing  facts  of  great  value  to  the  fishery.  As  long  ago  as 
1915,  a  paper  was  read  l)efore  tlie  Western  Division  of  the  American 
Association  for  Die  Advancement  of  Science,  at  San  Diego,  by  one  of 
the  leading  tuna  packers,  in  which  |)aper  this  packer  stated  tliat  it  was 
feared  the  albacore  even  then  might  be  undergoing  depletion  on  account 
of  too  intensive  fishing.  The  denumd  for  canned  tuna  was  so  great 
that  the  canneries  were  being  enlarged  at  a  reckless  rate,  the  number  of 
albacore  fishing  boats  was  being  rapidly  increased  mainly  on  capital 
furnished  by  the  canners.  There  was  a  growing  belief  that  the  schools 
of  albacore  were  not  so  extensive  as  a  few  years  before  and  there  was 
a  tendency  to  increase  the  price  to  the  fishermen  for  the  fish.  The  paper 
voiced  the  sentiment  of  the  packers  at  the  time  in  a  plea  for  a  scientific 
investigation  of  the  albacore  fishery  for  the  purpose  of  determining  its 
limitations  and  to  give  the  packers  some  idea  of  the  permanency  of  the 
industry  and  as  to  whether  the  expansion  had  reached  the  limit  to  which 
it  could  be  safely  extended,  or  if  it  had  already  passed  that  limit. 
These  were  practical  and  extremely  important  questions  being  asked 
of  the  scientific  investigator  by  an  important  industry,  and  the  interest 
created  by  the  discussion  which  followed  hastened  the  activity  of  the 
state  in  its  fisheries  work,  which  until  that  time  had  not  been  taken  up 
by  it  in  a  serious  manner. 

It  takes  time  and  accurate  data  extending  over  a  period  of  years  to 
determine  if  depletion  of  a  fishery  is  taking  place.  The  total  yearly 
catch  does  not  give  an  indication  unless  we  also  know  the  number  of 
boats  and  the  kind  of  fishing  gear  used  in  making  the  catches.  This 
data  has  to  be  obtained.  Fish  are  also  subject  to  fluctuations  in  abund- 
ance due  to  natural  causes  and  not  to  fishing,  so  it  is  necessary  in  such 
an  investigation  to  get  the  data  which  will  enable  us,  by  methods  known 
to  the  science  of  fisheries  consei-vation,  to  determine  if  periods  of  scar- 
city are  due  to  overfishing  or  to  natural  causes. 

Extensive  data  has  now  been  gathered  and  will  continue  to  be  gath- 
ered an  analysis  of  which  will  show  these  very  things  which  we  wish 
so  much  to  know.  While  the  data  does  not  extend  over  a  sufficient 
number  of  seasons  to  enable  us  to  be  absolutely  certain  that  depletion 
of  albacore  in  California  waters  has  not  taken  place,  it  is  sufficiently 
extensive  to  enable  us  to  say,  with  enough  assurance  to  answer  the 


60  REPORT   OF   THE   PISH   AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 

requirements  oi'  those  in  the  industry,  that  the  present  fishing  is  not 
causing  depletion  and  that  the  fluctuations  in  abundance  from  season  to 
season  are  due  to  natural  causes.  The  analysis  of  the  relative  abun- 
dance of  albacore  during  past  years,  as  made  by  this  connnission  and 
published  in  the  Pacific  Fisherman  Year  Book  1919,  showed  a  steady 
fall  in  the  catch  of  the  same  unit  of  gear  from  year  to  year.  Based  on 
that  evidence  alone  this  would  indicate  depletion,  but  from  other  facts, 
mainly  that  th(>  proportion  of  older  fisli  caught  at  the  latter  end  of  the 
season,  held  up,  we  are  led  to  believe  that  the  fall  in  relative  abundance 
of  albacore  during  these  years  was  not  due  to  depletion  but  to  natural 
causes.  This  conclusion  is  borne  out  l)y  the  fact  that  the  catch  for 
1920  has  shown  a  decided  increase,  which  coupled  with  the  reappearance 
of  younger  classes  of  albacore  are  encouraging  signs. 

A  necessary  part  of  such  a  fisheries  investigation  is  to  work  out  a 
method  of  determining  the  age  and  rate  of  growth  of  the  fish.  It  is  of 
great  importance  to  be  able  to  determine  the  relative  abundance  of  the 
age  classes  of  the  fish  under  investigation,  in  order  that  depletion  may 
be  distinguished  from  natural  fluctuations  in  abundance  and  to  furnish 
information  upon  which  to  predict  the  abundance  in  the  future  seasons. 

The  work  on  the  age  and  rate  of  growth  of  the  albacore  has  pro- 
gressed to  where  it  is  now  ready  for  publication.  The  usual  method 
of  determining  age  is  by  means  of  the  marks  or  winter  checks  on  the 
scales.  These  marks  proved  to  be  extremely  difficult  to  decipher  by  the 
simple  method  of  viewing  them  through  the  microscope.  A  special 
technique  was  used  to  decipher  them  which  entailed  a  great  amount 
of  painstaking  labor.  The  method  is  a  distinct  contribution  to  the 
science  of  fisheries  conservation  for  it  proves  by  a  strictly  mechanical 
method  which  is  entirely  free  from  the  influence  of  the  workers  personal 
judgment  that  the  marks  on  the  scales  correspond  absolutely  with  the 
age  of  the  fish.  The  importance  of  this  contribution  will  be  seen  when 
it  is  known  that  well  known  biologists  have  expressed  their  doubt  if  the 
marks  on  scales  do  actually  show  age.  This  is  the  first  direct  knowl- 
edge we  have  of  the  age  of  any  of  the  fish  belonging  to  the  mackerel ' 
family. 

The  work  on  the  age  of  albacore  shows  that  it  is  a  fast  growing 
fish,  which  is  encouraging,  for  on  that  account  the  fishery  can  stand 
heavier  fishing  than  if  it  were  a  slow  growing  fish.  The  study  of  age  has 
also  thrown  light  on  the  migration  of  these  fish.  These  matters  are 
thoroughly  discussed  in  Mr.  Thomp.son\s  paper. 

Much  work  has  been  done  on  the  migrations  and  fluctuations  in  the 
run  of  albacore.  A  relationship  between  the  catch  and  temperature, 
or  some  factor  allied  with  temperature,  has  been  shown.  A  couple  of 
papers  by  Mr.  Thompson  have  already  pointed  out  this  relationship. 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH    AND   GAME   COMMISSION.  61 

But  since  their  appearance  a  great  deal  of  additional  work  has  been 
done  and  the  whole  subject  of  migrations  and  fluctuation  of  the  catch 
will  be  treated  in  a  subsequent  p;ipcr  wtiirh  is  now  hciiiij:  prepared  for 
publication.  It  is  sufficient  to  say  that  the  results  show  that  there  are 
no  sudden  and  long  migrations  made  within  a  season  as  lias  been  be- 
lieved by  many  of  the  fishermen  and  caused  them  to  make  long  trips  up 
and  down  the  coast  in  the  Ix-lid'  tlic  schools  liad  made  an  extensive 
migration. 

There  is  evidently  a  ini.u'i'iition  to  the  northward  thnju^h  a  period  of 
\oars  but  the  migration  of  any  one  year  class  is  comparatively  limited. 
During  the  short  periods  when  they  do  not  take  the  hook  they  are  un- 
doubtedly near  at  lumd.  prohably  deep  in  the  water,  but  the  conditions 
which  are  allied  with  the  temperature,  are  such  that  they  do  not  feed 
at  the  surface  and  therefore  do  not  come  within  the  range  of  the  hooks 
of  the  fishermen.  This  knowledge  should  pi-ove  of  economic  importance 
to  the  industry. 

Sardine    Investigation. 

Although  there  is  probably  no  immediate  danger  of  depleting  the 
supi)ly  of  sardines  in  this  state,  the  time  to  begin  an  investigation  is 
Mhile  this  industry  is  yet  young  and  before  depletion  takes  place.  The 
rapid  growth  together  with  the  magnitude  and  importance  of  this 
fishery  has  caused  us  to  concentrate  our  efforts  upon  it.  A  considerable 
amount  of  preliminary  work  was  done  by  Mr.  W.  F.  Thompson,  as- 
sisted by  ]\Ir.  Elmer  Iliggins,  iNIr.  A.  W.  AVarnock  and  others.  In  this 
work,  begun  two  years  ago,  the  breeding  season  was  observed,  a  series 
of  scales  and  other  data  were  collected  for  the  study  of  age  and  rate  of 
growth.  A  set  of  careful  observations  were  made  on  the  difference 
between  sardines  from  San  Diego,  San  Pedro  and  Monterey  to  deter- 
mine the  interdependence  of  the  fisli  in  the  different  regions.  This 
point  is  of  importance  for  it  is  vital  to  know  if  the  sardines  of  each 
fishing  center  constitute  a  local  problem  or  if  there  is  an  interdepend- 
ence between  the  different  regions.  A  report  on  this  part  of  the  work 
will  soon  be  out.  Very  good  supplies  of  very  young  sardines  were 
collected  during  the  investigations  carried  on  by  the  patrol  boat 
"Albacore, "  which  throw  much  light  on  the  spawning  habits  of  the 
sardine. 

About  a  year  ago  the  sardine  work  was  taken  up  in  a  thorough- 
going manner  and  a  well  defined  program  laid  down  designed  to  meet 
the  needs  of  the  fishery.  This  program  was  published  in  Vol.  6,  No.  1, 
pp.  10-12  of  our  ciuarterly  magazine  California  Fish  and  Game.  It 
also  follows  the  general  plan  as  set  forth  in  Fish  Bulletin  No.  2.  The 
program  although  scientific  is  extremely  practical  and  meets  well  the 


62  REPORT   OF   THE   FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 

needs  of  the  fishery.     To  quote  California  Fish  and  Game,  Vol.  6. 
No.  4 : 

The  propfram  under  wliieh  the  work  has  been  done  contemplates  (1)  the  dis- 
covery of  depletion  if  it  should  occur,  (2)  the  discovery  of  Kvoat  natural  fluctua- 
tions in  abundance  or  quality  other  than  those  due  to  over-fishing,  (3)  the  fore- 
telling of  these  fluctuations,  which  in  other  fisheries  have  at  times  caused  great 
damage,  (4)  the  deci])hering  of  those  habits  of  the  species  which  are  of  importance 
to  the  canner  and  fisherman,  such  as  migrations,  and  (7>)  knowledge  of  such  facts 
as  will  aid  the  legislator.  The  absolute  completion  of  this  program  is  without  doubt 
well  removed,  but  contributions  to  it  of  great  value  will  be  made  in  the  very 
near  future,  enabling  us  to  make  at  least  provisional  answei-s,  a  thing  impossible  now. 
Among  these  we  may  list  the  age  and  rate  of  growth,  the  breeding  season,  and  the 
interdependence  of  the  sardines  in  different  regions.  That  the  fore-telling  of  fluctu- 
ations is  not  necessary  may  be  seen  from  the  work  of  the  Norwegian  fishery  authori- 
ties on  the  herring.  The  other  elements  of  the  outline  given  are  dependent  entirely 
upon  the  records  we  obtain — and  we  are  acquiring  the  very  best  possible. 

The  most  valuable  results  to  be  expected  from  these  investigations 
will  be  the  ability  to  detect  the  earliest  evidence  of  depletion  so  that 
we  can  permit  the  industry  to  expand  without  fear  of  greatly  overrun- 
ning the  limit  of  safety  for  the  future  of  the  iudustry,  to  detect  natural 
fluctuations  in  abundance  from  depletion  and  to  be  able  to  foretell  the 
abundance  of  the  different  canning  sizes  in  the  next  or  subsequent 
years. 

Clam    Investigation. 

Since  April,  1919,  F.  W.  Weymouth  has  been  devoting  a  portion  of 
his  time  to  the  completion  of  a  survey  of  the  shellfish  of  the  California 
coast  commenced  several  years  previously  by  AVill  F.  Thompson.  A 
report  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  printer  (Fish  Bulletin  No.  4)  embody- 
ing all  the  collected  data.  The  primary  purpose  of  the  survey  has  been 
to  put  on  record  the  number  and  abundance  of  the  species  of  commercial 
importance  and  the  location  and  condition  of  the  beds  at  present  being 
utilized.  The  scope  of  the  report  has  been  extended  by  the  inclusion 
of  descriptions  and  figures  together  with  a  key  for  ready  identification 
of  some  forty  species  of  present  or  possible  commercial  value.  Hereto- 
fore no  such  key  has  been  available,  and  it  is  hoped  that  by  this  publi- 
cation campers  and  amateur  clam  diggers  can  be  made  acquainted  with 
the  edible  bivalves  of  the  coast.  Beside  the  description  and  range  of 
each  species  an  account  of  its  habits  has  been  included.  Though  many 
collections  of  attractive  and  interesting  "shells"  have  been  made  there 
are  few  observations  on  the  varied  habits  of  these  mollusks  and  it  is 
hoped  that  those  recorded  in  this  report  may  lead  to  more  study  of  the 
remarkable  ways  in  which  the  bivalves  are  adapted  to  the  diverse  con- 
ditions of  life  under  which  they  are  found. 

In  connection  with  this  survey  certain  important  points  have  de- 
veloped. One  is  the  need  for  a  more  detailed  study  of  the  life  history 
of  at  least  some  of  the  more  representative  and  important  species.    At 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND    GAME   COMMISSION,  G3 

present,  though  several  of  the  eastern  species  have  been  carefully  in- 
vestigated, no  facts  concerning  the  age  or  rate  of  growth  of  a  single 
native  Pacific  species  are  known. 

In  an  attempt  to  remedy  this  lack,  data  have  been  collected  through- 
out the  year  on  the  Pisnio  clam,  one  of  the  most  important  California 
species,  and  these  are  now  being  carefully  studied.  The  preliminary 
work  indicates  the  main  features  of  the  age'  and  as  soon  as  it  can  be 
completed  it  will  be  put  in  form  for  publication.  It  appears  that  the 
growth  is  less  rapid  than  has  been  supposed  and  that  a  considerable 
age  is  reached  by  the  larger  specimens  met  with. 

A  careful  survey  of  the  coast  has  forced  the  conclusion  that  few  of 
the  native  species  can  be  materially  increased  by  artificial  means,  but 
that  ill  certain  suitable  bays  the  "farming"  of  the  introduced  soft 
shell  or  long  clam  miglit  be  made  very  profitable.  Its  culture  has 
passed  the  experimental  state  on  the  eastern  coast  and  profiting  by  this 
experience  many  acres  of  otherwise  barren  tide  flats  might  be  made  to 
yield  as  sure  and  valuable  a  crop  as  a  wheat  field.  It  is  hoped  that  in 
the  future  the  question  of  the  control  of  suitable  tide  lands  may  be  put 
on  as  secure  a  basis  as  is  the  management  of  existing  oyster  lands,  thus 
making  such  clam  farming  a  practical  possibility. 

Oyster    Investigations. 

During  the  past  year  Dr.  Harold  Heath  has  been  employed  on  in- 
vestigations relative  to  the  propagation  of  our  native  California  oyster. 
The  larger  Eastern  oyster  has  never  yielded  to  efforts  to  propagate  it  in 
this  state  for  the  principal  reason  that  our  waters  during  its  spawning 
season  are  entirely  too  cold.  It  has  been  necessary,  therefore,  for  the 
growers  of  Eastern  oysters  to  keep  their  beds  stocked  by  bringing  out 
the  spat  or  seed  oysters  from  the  Atlantic  coast.  After  the  oysters 
have  reached  the  size  known  as  "spat"  they  will  thrive  in  our  waters 
but  the  younger  larval  stage  can  live  only  within  a  narrow  range  of 
temperature  which  is  above  that  reached  by  the  water  in  any  of  our 
bays  where  oyster  raising  has  been  tried.  Our  smaller  native  oyster 
on  the  other  liand,  propagates  within  a  comparatively  wide  range  of 
temperature  and  breeds  naturally  from  San  Diego  Bay  to  Alaska.  It  is 
known  in  the  far  North  as  the  "Canadian  oyster,"  in  Washington  as 
the  "Olympia  oyster"  and  in  this  state  as  the  "California  oyster." 

In  "Washington  much  progress  has  been  made  in  raising  this  Pacific 
Coast  oyster  and  by  means  of  expert  advice  the  industiy  has  been 
made  quite  profitable.  Choice  oyster  bottoms  on  Puget  Sound  are 
valued  as  high  as  $4,000  per  acre. 

The  only  place  in  this  state  wdiere  it  has  been  at  all  profitable  iv. 
gather  the  native  oyster  is  on  Tomales  Bay,  IMarin  Countv.    Altiiough 

5-7857 


64  REPORT   OF   THE   PISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 

these  oysters  are  said  by  oyster  men  to  be  the  equal  of  the  better  known 
Olympia  oyster,  no  very  intelligent  effort  has  been  made  to  increase 
the  yield.  Occasional  trials  have  been  made  to  obtain  a  better  set  by 
placing  out  shells  or  other  objects  as  collectors  to  which  the  young  may 
attach  themselves.  In  these  trials  the  collectors  have  mostly  been  put 
out  at  the  wrong  time  or  in  the  wrong  place.  In  response  to  requests 
for  aid,  Dr.  Heath  was  employed  to  conduct  the  present  investiga- 
tion. The  work  was  mainly  done  on  Tomales  Bay  for  the  reason  that 
assistance  and  co-operation  could  be  had  from  the  local  oyster  com- 
panies. The  knowledge  gained,  however,  can  be  applied  to  any  locality 
where  the  conditions  for  oyster  growing  are  favorable.  Although  the 
work  was  in  the  nature  of  a  preliminary  investigation,  and  only  a  com- 
paratively small  amount  of  time  was  consumed,  the  work  was  done 
with  the  immediate  needs  of  the  industry  in  view  and  resulted  in 
clearing  up  several  points  vital  to  the  success  of  the  industry.  The 
knowledge  thus  gained  sliould  result  in  the  growing  of  California  oys- 
ters on  a  large  commercial  scale,  not  only  on  Tomales  Bay  but  in  several 
of  the  other  bays  of  the  state. 

A  preliminary  report  will  soon  be  published  giving  the  progress  of 
this  work  so  that  we  will  give  here  only  very  briefly  some  of  the  results. 
It  was  found  that  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  natural  oyster  beds 
remarkable  "sets"  can  be  obtained  on  oyster  shell  collectors  if  these 
collectors  are  put  out  at  the  right  time.  Collectors  placed  in  the  water 
too  soon  accumulate  a  coat  of  slime  and  sediment  which  permits  only  a 
very  few  of  the  embryo  oysters  to  become  attached.  It  is  necessary, 
therefore,  to  put  out  experimental  collectors  at  intervals  or  to  observe 
the  relative  abundance  of  free  swimming  oyster  larvae,  in  order  to  de- 
termine the  proper  time  for  putting  out  the  collectors.  This  work  must 
be  done  by  an  experienced  person  for  it  is  necessary  by  means  of  the 
microscope  to  distinguish  the  oyster  larvae  from  the  larvae  of  clams  and 
other  mollusks.  If  this  information  is  supplied  each  spatting  season,  it 
will  be  possible  for  the  industry  to  expand  greatly.  It  is  now  quite 
certain  that  the  young  oysters  can  be  collected  on  oyster  shells  or  other 
collectors  and  later  transplanted  to  prepared  beds  in  places  where  no 
oysters  grow  naturally,  just  as  has  been  done  in  Puget  Sound.  In  this 
way  large  areas  which  are  now  unproductive  can  l)e  made  to  maintain 
beds  of  oysters. 

Work  was  carried  on  to  determine  the  distribution  of  the  free  swim- 
ming larvae  in  relation  to  water  salinity,  temperature  and  currents. 
The  rate  of  growth  and  character  of  food  supply  were  also  subjects  of 
study.  Experiments  were  made  in  transplanting  both  young  and 
adults  to  different  parts  of  the  bay  to  determine  how  much  of  a  change 
in  salinity  or  temperature  they  can  withstand. 


REPORT   OP   THE   FISH    AND    GAME   COMMISSION.  bb 

A  STATE  FISHERIES  LABORATORY. 

As  stated  toward  tlie  beginning  of  tliis  n'i)ort,  tin;  ti.slu!rirs  (-onserva- 
tion  work  of  any  state  or  government,  tn  be  adequate  must  be  based 
upon  detailed  and  accurate  data  of  the  catch.  These  data  gain  in 
value  as  the  years  progress  and  in  oidn-  that  they  may  be  properly 
Itreserved  and  kept  available  for  the  in\'estigators,  they  should  be  kept 
in  a  permanent  depository  where  they  will  be  safe  from  fire  or  other 
destructive  agencies.  This  depository  should  be  in  the  building  where 
the  fisheries  work  is  being  carried  on.  It  is  also  necessary  that  the  in- 
vestigators have  suitable  quarters  in  which  to  carry  on  the  work  upon 
the  biology  of  the  specias  upon  which  the  principal  fisheries  depend. 

AVitliin  these  quarters  there  should  be  space  for  a  working  library 
dealing  with  fisheries  subjects.  Space  should  also  be  provided  for  the 
collection  of  specimens  and  ])iological  material.  Storage  room  is  needed 
for  nets  and  other  apparatus  used  in  connection  w  itli  the  investigations 
and  finally  it  is  very  desirable  that  space  be  had  to  exhibit  to  those 
interested  the  extent  and  methods  of  the  fisheries  and  more  especially 
to  show  in  graphic  form  the  progress  and  achievements  of  the  investi- 
gation work. 

So  far  we  have  rented  quarters  wherever  we  could  find  them  and 
this  has  proven  to  be  very  unsatisfactory.  In  fact,  it  has  been  impos- 
sible to  rent  anything  that  even  approaches  our  needs  in  the  locality 
where  such  a  laboratory  should  be  located.  The  laboratory  quarters 
have  had  to  be  moved  frequently  and  the  workers  are  now  scattered 
so  that  it  is  difficult  to  systematize  or  to  supervise  the  work. 

In  order  that  the  records  of  the  fisheries  may  be  safe  from  destruction 
by  fire  we  have  had  to  store  them  where  they  can  be  referred  to  only 
with  great  difficulty.  There  has  been  no  room  for  the  library  which  is 
being  accumulated  nor  is  there  space  for  the  collections. 

To  meet  this  need  for  adequate  and  permanent  quarters  plans  have 
been  made  to  build  a  state  fisheries  laboratory.  We  have  secured  from 
the  City  of  Los  Angeles  free  of  charge,  a  long  term  permit  to  occupy  a 
site  at  Fish  Harbor,  San  Pedro,  situated  at  the  intersection  of  Seaside 
avenue  and  Tuna  street.  This  location  is  central  to  the  canneries,  mar- 
kets and  docks  of  the  most  important  fisheries  center  in  the  state.  Ten- 
tative plans  for  a  fire  proof  building  have  been  approved  and  placed 
in  the  hands  of  the  State  Architect  for  the  final  draft  and  specifiications. 
The  estimated  cost  of  the  building  is  $20,000.  We  quote  in  the  follow- 
ing from  a  statement  of  the  aims  of  this  institution  by  W.  F.  Thomp- 
son and  published  in  California  Fish  and  Game  for  October,  1920 : 

"It  will  be  well  to  state  now  as  clearly  as  possible  those  ideals  to  which  the 
Commission  is  planning  to  dedicate  a  unique  institution.  Such  a  statement  may  save 
misunderstandiiiff  and  opposition,  ond  should  give  to  those  interested  an  appreciation 
of  the  underlying  purposes  such  as  will  enable  them  to  comprehend  the  reasons  for 
the  choice  of  site  and  for  the  plans  adopted.     The  site  was  chosen  because  of  its 


66  REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND   GAME    COMMISSION. 

proximity  to  the  canneries  and  the  fish  wharves,  making  it  possible  to  follow  easily 
the  progress  of  the  fishery.  The  plans  adopted  arc  intended  to  give  good  working 
room  for  a  statistical  and  biological  study  of  the  fisheries  for  the  purpose  of  conser- 
vation and  adequate  utilization  and  at  the  same  time  to  allow  an  exhibit  to  those 
interested  in  the  purposes  of  the  work  and  its  relation  to  the  fisheries. 

That  the  primary  purposes  of  the  investigations  of  tlie  California  Fish  and  Game 
Commission  are  conservation  and  adequate  utilization  has  been  stated  many  times. 
But  such  i)urposes  have  been  i'ei)eatedly  avowed  by  investigators,  whose  programs 
when  adopted  have  betrayed  a  primary  interest  in  general  natural  history,  and  have 
shown  little  relationship  to  the  problems  to  be  solved.  The  scientific  program  of  the 
Commission  has,  however,  been  planned  very  specifically  to  meet  the  problems  which 
are  involved  in  governmental  control  of  the  fisheries,  and  are  adapted  to  meet  the 
responsibilities  of  the  state  as  legal  guardian  of  those  natural  resources.  The  ma- 
chinery for  the  execution  of  this  program  is,  in  fact,  already  operating  in  part,  'and 
its  purix)ses  ai*e  stated  very  clearly  in  the  laws  of  the  state  as  duties  of  the  Com- 
mission. 

The  law  then  goes  on  to  make  provisions  for  the  statistical  system  now  in  use  as 
one  of  the  bases  for  the  scientific  work.  This  system  is  to  the  best  of  our  knowledge 
one  without  parallel  in  any  country,  and  it  has  already  proved  itself  superior  to  any 
statistical  system  we  are  acquainted  with.  It  registers  the  catch  of  every  boat, 
leaving  its  record  for  subsequent  study  by  scientists  in  conjunction  with  other 
records  by  which  changes  in  apparatus  and  economic  conditions  may  be  discounted, 
in  order  that  there  may  be  obtained  a  measure  of  the  fluctuations  in  abundance  of 
fish  from  year  to  year.  It  will  be  inevitable,  in  the  future,  that  any  scientific 
program  carried  on  by  the  possessors  of  such  complete  records  as,  by  this  law,  we 
shall  eventually  have,  will  be  a  program  designed  to  discover  the  meaning  of  i>uch 
records  in  terms  of  abundance  and  scarcity  of  fish.  That  there  are  faults  in  the 
system  must  be  granted,  but  the  faults  are  infinitesimal  compared  to  those  of  statis- 
tical systems  depending  upon  estimates'  and  hearsay.  The  laboratory  will  provide 
for  the  filing  and  the  study  of  these  records. 

But  this  statistical  work  is  only  a  part  of  the  program,  and  in  formulating  both 
this  and  the  biological,  which  is  in  a  way  the  more  important,  the  Commission  has 
had  before  it  the  several  programs  adopted  during  the  last  two  decades  in  other 
countries,  notably  in  those  bordering  the  North  Sea  and  our  North  Pacific,  and  from 
these  programs  and  their  results  it  has  been  possible  to  decide  within  somewhat 
narrow  limits  what  knowledge  is  necessary  to  competently  legislate  for  our  fisheries. 
The  failures  and  successes  of  others  during  the  recent  great  advances  in  fishery 
science  have  profited  us.  And  in  this  fact  is  seen  the  reason  why  the  program  for 
the  proposed  laboratory  will  be  a  really  vital  one,  dealing  with  questions  which 
actually  face  the  legislator  and  the  men  interested  eommcrciaUy.  It  will  lack  the 
vagueness  of  random  natural  history  investigations,  and  it  will  avoid  the  limitation 
in  value  of  technological  research.  In  the  future  we  may  justifiably  hope  that  the 
investigations  carried  on  in  the  new  laboratory  will  further  define  and  clarify  the 
many  problems  to  be  met  with. 

And  in  thus  reviewing  the  work  in  other  fields  perhaps  the  most  obvious  fact  has 
been  the  absolute  necessity  of  access  to  the  vast  store  of  specimens  and  data  to  be 
furnished  by  the  commercial  fisheries.  No  agency  could  afford  to  duplicate  this  store, 
despite  its  vital  importance  to  any  investigations.  And  this  has,  in  fact,  determined 
the  location  of  the  laboratory  and  dominated  in  the  construction  of  its  plans.  An- 
other obivous  conclusion  to  be  drawn  from  the  work  of  others  has  been  the  necessity 
of  obtaining  pop'ular  support  by  exhibiting  to  those  interested  the  purposes  of  the 
work,  and  its  achievements,  as  well  as  by  showing  graphically  the  necessity  for  it. 
Because  of  this  there  has  been  planned  an  exhibit  room. 

The  great  scientific  value  of  this  work  may  not  be  immediately  obvious  to  the 
scientist  who  is  interested  in  some  of  the  more  basic  lawe  of  biology.  It  may  appear 
too  practical.  Yet  this  definition  of  aim,  and  practical  trend  actually  heightens  the 
value  of  the  work  from  the  standpoint  of  general  science.  The  problems  faced  by 
the  legislator  are,  in  striking  degree,  the  same  as  those  in  which  the  student  of 
geographical  distribution,  and  of  evolution  is  or  should  be  interested,  and  the  material 
offered  by  the  commercial  fisheries  far  exceeds  in  extent  that  which  can  be  obtained 
through  other  sources.  The  degree  of  isolation  of  different  races  and  the  extent  to 
which  it  leaves  its  traces  on  the  morphology  or  habits  of  the  species  is  of  great  im- 
portance to  one  pondering  the  value  of  protection  to  a  species  overfished  in  a  par- 
ticular locality,  just  as  it  is  to  the  man  interested  in  the  formation  of  races  and 


I 


REPORT   OP   THE   FISH    AM)   GAME    COMMISSION. 


6- 


species.  The  rapidity  of  srowdi,  ilic  disl  lihulion  <if  pi'lagic  ova  or  larvae  by  currents, 
tlio  rosponso  of  the  species  to  clianjies  in  siirroirndini;  conditions,  all  affect  both  the 
conclusions  of  the  naturalist  and  those  to  whom  the  apparent  abundance  of  fish  ia 
vitally  important.  Above  all,  iiowever,  our  program  will  \ye  most  vital  to  the 
progress  of  hydroKraphicnl  science  in  its  relation  to  the  food  supply  of  man,  through 
what  is  in  reality  the  most  essential  i)urpos(>  of  our  work — the  measurement  of  the 
actual  abundance  of  lish  in  the  ocean.  The  effect  of  liydrotjraphical  conditions  on 
fish  can  not  bo  measured  without  a  knowledge  of  the  real  abundance  of  fish,  of  the 
rate  of  growth,  and  the  habits.  So,  in  addition  to  being  dedicated  to  the  .service 
of  comix>tent  legislation  for  conservation  ami  utilization,  the  laboratory  will  be  in  a 
very  real  way  an  essential  part  in  tlu'  |>rogrfss  of  more  g<'neral  scientific  knowledge." 

FISHERIES    PATROL. 

IMost  of  tlio  fislicfics  ('()iis('i'v;ition  laws  of  tlie  state  JM^ply  to  the 
Saeraineiik)  and  San  -Joaciiiiii  rivers  and  to  tlie  San  Francisco  Bay 
region  where  intensive  fishing  has  been  longest  carried  on  and  where 
more  species  of  fish  are  in  need  of  protection.  For  the  enforcement 
of  these  laws  we  have  five  patrol  boats.  San  Francisco  Bay  and  the 
near  outside  waters  are  covered  by  ihc  boats  "Quinnat"  and  "Steel- 
head",  the  river  fishing  districts  by  the  boats  "Rainbow,"  "Barracuda" 
and  "Shad."  The  first  two  boats  are  directly  in  charge  of  tliis  depart- 
ment.    The  otlicr  three  come  imdor  tlio  lioad  of  general  patrol  as  they 


Fig.   17.      Commercial    Fisheries    patrol    boats,     a.  The    "Albacore,"    June    3,    191S. 

Photograph  by  E.   M.   Niel.sen.      b.      The   "Steelhead"  patrolling  the  lower   Sacramento 

0.     The    "Quinnat."     Photograph   by   N.    B.    Scofield.  d.     The    "Rainbow"   at   time   of 
launching  in  1919.     Photograph  by  A.  M.  Fairfield. 


68  REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND    GAME   COMMISSION. 

have  much  game  patrol  work  as  well,  and  are  directed  by  the  chiefs  of 
patrol  of  the  San  Francisco  and  Sacramento  districts. 

Patrol    Boat   "Quinnat." 

Tlie  patrol  boat  "Quinnat"  is  a  cruiser  or  raised  deck  type  of  boat, 
forty-six  feet  in  length  with  a  beam  of  eight  feet  and  nine  inches,  and 
draws  three  feet  two  inches  of  water.  She  is  a  well  equipped  boat  with 
a  cabin  wliifh  furnishes  sleeping  accommodation.s  for  four  persons,  a 
fully  equipped  galley,  wardrobe,  lockers  and  lavatory.  She  is  finished 
in  Philippine  mahogany  and  is  electric  liglited  throughout.  When  built 
in  1910  at  a  cost  of  $6,500  she  was  equipped  with  a  forty  horsepower 
gasoline  engine  which  enabled  her  to  attain  a  speed  of  about  twelve  miles 
per  hour.  In  1919  it  was  found  necessary  to  replace  this  old  engine 
and  a  ninety  horsepower  Wisconsin  engine  was  installed  in  its  place. 
With  this  new  engine  she  can  make  a  speed  of  thirteen  miles  per  hour. 
The  boat  has  a  fuel  capacity  of  240  gallons  which  gives  it  a  fairly  large 
cruising  radius.  A  small  house  has  been  recently  built  at  the  forward 
end  of  the  cockpit  to  protect  the  operator  from  the  weather.  This  boat's 
regular  crew  consists  of  a  captain  and  engineer  but  can  accommodate 
two  extra  men  when  the  emergency  requires.  Although  in  constant 
service  since  being  built  this  boat  has  been  given  good  care  and  is  in  an 
excellent  state  of  preservation.  She  was  designed  for  use  on  San  Fran- 
cisco Bay  and  for  trips  to  the  crab,  rock  cod  and  trawl  fishing  grounds 
outside,  and  to  the  fishing  grounds  in  Monterey  Bay.  While  she  is  an 
excellent  boat  and  is  doing  the  work  for  which  she  was  built  she  is  not 
as  seaworthy  in  bad  weather  outside  the  heads  as  had  been  expected. 
With  the  growing  importance  of  the  outside  fishing,  more  especially  that 
at  Monterey  and  Fort  Bragg,  it  may  be  necessary  at  some  time  to 
replace  her  with  a  larger  and  more  seaworthy  boat. 

Patrol  Boat  "Steelhead." 

In  1920  the  boat  "Steelhead"  was  built  to  assist  in  the  patrol  work 
of  San  Francisco  Bay.  The  "Barracuda"  which  had  been  doing  this 
work  was  transferred  to  the  river  work  to  take  the  place  of  a  boat  which 
was  being  rented  for  the  purpose.- 

Tlie  "Steelhead"  is  the  type  of  boat  used  in  salmon  trolling  at  Mon- 
terey and  Fort  Bragg.  She  is  thirty-one  feet  long,  nine  foot  beam  and 
draws  thirty-two  inches  of  water.  She  has  a  twelve  horsepower  Hicks 
two  cylinder  heavy  duty  engine  and  has  a  speed  of  nine  miles  per  hour. 
She  is  decked  in  and  has  a  house  shelter  over  the  engine  and  cockpit. 
The  forward  deck  is  slightly  raised  to  give  sleeping  quarters  for  three 
men.  There  are  fuel  tanks  for  100  gallons  and  a  20  gallon  water  tank. 
Her  contract  price  was  $2,545.  She  can  be  operated  by  one  man  but 
can  carry  more  when  necessary. 


REPORT   OP   THE    FISH    AND    GAME   COMMISSION.  69 

111  addition  to  work  oil  San  Franci.sco  liay  it  is  intended  to  use  tlie 
"Steelhead"  at  Monterey  and  Fort  Braj^jjj  during  the  fishing  seasons 
at  tliose  plaees  and  to  engage  in  experimental  fishing  to  develop 
methods  of  catching  fish  now  little  used. 

Patrol    Launch    "Albacore." 

For  tile  patrol  of  southern  California  waters  we  have  the  boat  "Al- 
bacore," built  in  1918  and  described  in  the  last  Biennial  Report.  She 
is  si.xty  feet  long,  twelve  foot  l)caiii  and  has  a  draft  of  five  feet.  She 
is  equipped  with  a  sixty-five  horsepower  Acme  engine  and  has  a  speed 
of  eleven  miles  per  hour.  An  ample  cabin  is  provided  with  sleeping 
neeommodations  for  six  persons,  a  fully  equipped  galley,  a  lavatory  and 
lockers.  She  is  built  plainly  on  the  model  of  a  tuna  fishing  lioat  and  is 
a  good  substantial  seaworthy  boat,  well  adapted  to  patrol  and  investiga- 
tion work.  "With  a  crew  of  three,  captain^  engineer  and  deckhand,  she 
covers  the  coast  from  Santa  Barbara  to  San  Diego. 

The  "Albacore"  has  been  used  a  great  deal  in  experimental  "long 
line"  fishing  for  albacore  and  has  assisted  in  the  fisheries  investigation 
work.  For  more  than  a  year,  however,  practically  all  of  her  time  has 
been  occupied  with  patrol  work.  With  constant  demands  made  upon 
lier  by  the  patrol  work  and  with  long  distances  to  cover  she  has  been  put 
through  a  lot  of  hard  work.  We  doubt  if  the  log  of  any  boat  of  its  size 
on  the  coast  will  show  as  much  work  done. 

Other  Patrol  Work. 
lieside.s  the  fisheries  patrol  carried  on  l)y  boat  we  employ  a  patrolman 

in  the  vicinity  of  San  Pedro  who  works  about  the  piers,  fishing  docks 
ond  part  of  the  time  on  the  patrol  boat.  As  occasion  has  demanded 
extra  men  have  been  secured  from  the  Los  Angeles  County  sheriff's 
office. 

At  San  Diego  we  have  a  patrolman  who  devotes  about  all  of  his  time 
to  the  fisheries  patrol  work.  At  San  Francisco  one  man  gives  this 
branch  of  the  w^ork  all  of  his  time.  As  already  stated  the  three  boats, 
"Rainbow,"  "Barracuda"  and  "Shad,"  while  doing  some  game  patrol 

work  are  largely  employed  on  fisheries  work.  Game  deputies  wherever 
-stationed  in  commercial  fishing  localities  devote  part  of  their  time  to 
fisheries  work  and  during  fishing  seasons  may  give  all  their  time  under 

the  direction  of  this  department.  In  this  way  the  fisheries  patrol  is  well 
cared  for. 

SALMON    INVESTIGATIONS. 

In  the  salmon  investigations  this  department  is  cooperating  with  the 
Department  of  Fishculture  for  each  is  equally  concerned  with  the  con- 
servation of  these  fish.  Investigations  of  California  salmon  which  have 
been  mad(>  in  tlie  past  have  in  a  large  degree  been  superficial,  but  to 


70  REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 

work  out  the  important  problems  remaining  unsolved  requires  well 
organized  and  sustained  effort. 

The  chief  object  here  is  to  acquaint  ourselves  as  much  as  possible 
with  the  life  and  habits  of  the  salmon,  for  intelligent  attempts  at  con- 
servation must  depend  largely  on  our  knowledge  of  the  natural  history 
of  the  species.  The  fact  that  rapid  depletion  and  almost  total  destruc- 
tion of  the  supply  of  salmon  has  occurred  in  certain  localities  to  the 
northward,  is  sufficient  warning  tliat  the  question  of  conservation  must 
be  considered  by  us  even  more  seriously  than  in  the  past.  In  addition 
to  a  constantly  increased  effort  to  supply  a  growing  demand  for  fish 
food,  we  are  faced  with  the  rapid  development  of  irrigation  and  power 
construction,  which  in  some  instances  completely  closes  or  threatens  to 
close  large  tributaries  of  our  rivers  which  liave  served  as  natural  breed- 
ing grounds  for  salmon.  The  recent  growth  of  sea  fishing  for  salmon 
also  furnishes  a  problem  for  careful  investigation.  The  main  hope  of 
being  able  to  combat  these  destructive  agencies  lies  in  intellgently 
administered  conservation  and  propagation. 

Artificial  propagation  seems  to  have  reached  a  high  state  of  perfection, 
but  there  are  many  questions  relating  to  methods  of  liberation,  distribu- 
tion and  breeding  of  young  salmon  that  need  immediate  attention.  It  is 
quite  possible  that  some  of  our  smaller  coastal  streams  might  be  made 
through  artificial  propagation  to  contribute  largely  to  the  demands  of 
sea  fishing,  and  that  with  a  little  aid  more  or  less  permanent  migrations 
might  be  established  in  some  of  them. 

The  salmon  investigation  work  has  been  placed  in  charge  of  Dr.  J. 
0.  Snyder  of  Stanford  University,  who  is  exceptionally  well  qualified  to 
carry  on  this  line  of  work. 

During  the  past  two  seasons  assistants,  under  his  direction,  have 
been  engaged  in  making  observations  at  Monterey  Bay,  Fort  Bragg. 
Klamath,  Trinity,  Smith  and  Sacramento  rivers,  and  elsewhere.  There 
have  been  assembled  considerable  data  relating  to  sea  fishing  and  river 
migration,  collections  of  scales  from  which  something  of  the  life  history 
of  the  fish  may  be  obtained,  collections  of  young  salmon  from  different 
localiti&s,  etc.  Laboratory  studies  of  this  material  is  now  in  progress. 
Attention  has  been  directed  principally  toward  king  salmon,  but  observa- 
tions of  value  have  been  made  on  silver  salmon,  steelheads,  sturgeon, 
and  other  river  fishes  as  well. 

What  is  most  urgently  demanded  now  is  some  knowledge  of  the  com- 
position or  source  of  origin  of  the  schools  of  salmon  upon  which  the  sea 
fishing  draws,  of  the  movements,  source  of  food,  and  other  facts  relating 
to  the  ocean  life  of  salmon,  of  the  location  and  extent  of  spawning 
grounds,  the  migrations  of  adults  and  young,  and  methods  of  introduc- 


REPORT   OF   THE   PISH    AND   GAME   COMMISSION.  71 

tion  and  distributidn  wliicli  will  hriiii^-  tlie  l)est  results  to  iirtilicial  pruj)- 
a<?ation.  Facts  relating  to  these  questions  can  only  be  gained  through 
patient  oteervation  and  carefully  planned  experimentation. 

FISH    REDUCTION. 

Wliei-evcr  fisheries  are  carried  on  extensive  waste  usually  results. 
Many  unmarketable  fishes  are  unavoidably  caught  and  frequently  even 
the  desirable  varieties  are  cau^ilt  in  such  quantities  they  cannot  be 
nbsorbed  by  the  markets  before  spoiling.  As  an  illustrf^tion,  the 
mackerel  boats  fisliiiig  out  of  a  port  in  England  recently  brought  in  so 
many  mackerel  in  one  day  that  the  fresh  markets  and  salteries  would 
not  take  all  of  them  and  500,000  perfectly  good  mackerel  were  taken  to 
sea  and  dumped.  Besides  such  losses  resulting  from  occasional  over- 
catches  there  is  a  loss  of  at  least  fifty  per  cent  in  the  cleaning  of  fish 
which  go  to  the  markets,  salteries  or  canneries.  In  many  places  this 
waste  is  dumped  at  sea  and  no  effort  is  made  to  convert  it  into  useful 
products  such  as  fish  meal  and  oil.  It  is  evident  that  even  in  England 
where  fishing  has  been  carried  on  for  centuries  fish  waste  and  offal  is 
not  being  utilized  as  it  should.  lu  the  salmon  fi.sheries  of  the  north 
Pacific,  many  millions  of  pounds  of  fish  offal  are  annually  dumped  into 
the  sea.  The  Council  of  Scientific  and  Industrial  Research  of  Canada 
estimates  that  in  that  country  $12,000,000  worth  of  fish  offal  is  wasted 
each  year. 

In  California  the  demand  for  fish  meal  for  poultry  or  stock  food  or 
as  a  fertilizer  for  fruit  trees,  and  the  demand  for  fish  oil  to  be  used  in 
the  manufacture  of  fruits  and  other  products  has  resulted  in  almost 
every  pound  of  fish  waste  being  utilized.  California  easily  surpasses  all 
other  states  in  Ibe  utilization  of  its  fish  waste.  A  few  years  ago  when 
our  fisheries  began  to  expand,  reduction  plants  were  established  at  the 
principal  fishing  centers  and  the  fish  offal  and  waste  \vas  hauled  to  them 
by  barge  or  truck.  There  was  a  demand  for  small,  compact  and  sani- 
tary reduction  plants  which  could  be  run  in  connection  Avith  the 
cannery.  After  considerable  experimenting  these  were  finally  perfected 
and  several  different  makes  were  placed  on  the  market  by  manufactur- 
ers in  this  state.  Most  of  our  fish  canneries  are  now  equipped  with 
these  plants  and  in  them  the  fish  offal  is  handled  quickly  before  putri- 
fication  sets  in  and  tlie  fish  meal  tluis  iimnufactured  is  an  excellent 
poultry  or  stock  food. 

The  independent  reduction  plants  which  depended  on  fish  oft'al  for 
their  supply  of  raw  material  have  lost  by  this  and  some  have  had  to 
close.  Fish  meal  and  oil  have  sold  at  such  good  prices  and  sardines 
can  be  caught  so  cheaply  that  there  have  been  times  when  it  was  as  pro- 
fitable to  convert  the  fish  into  meal  and  oil  as  into  canned  food.  This 
resulted  in  large  quantities  of  sardines  being  used  in  the  reduction 


72  REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 

plants  ill  tlie  spring  of  1919  during  the  time  when  the  fish  were  not 
quite  up  to  the  standard  of  fatness  to  can.  Although  it  is  considered 
proper  to  use  the  menhaden  in  vast  quantities  on  our  Atlantic  coast  for 
obtaining  fish  oil  and  the  herring  to  a  less  extent  in  Norway  for  oil  and 
meal,  it  was  believed  that  the  unrestricted  use  of  sardines  for  this  pur- 
pose should  not  be  permitted  in  California.  Our  canners  themselves  as 
well  as  the  public  were  opposed  to  the  practice  and  the  legislature,  then 
in  session,  enacted  a  law  which  placed  the  regulation  of  the  use  of  fish 
in  reduction  plants  in  the  hands  of  the  Fish  and  Game  Commission. 
The  first  idea  of  the  legislative  committee  which  passed  upon  the  bill 
was  that  the  use  of  any  edible  fish  in  reduction  plants  should  be  pro- 
hibited, but  adopted  the  plan  of  placing  the  control  of  the  matter  in  the 
hands  of  the  Fish  and  Game  Commission  when  it  was  shown  that  fre- 
quently over-catches  cannot  be  avoided,  that  fish  hoisting  apparatus  or 
canning  machinery  will  break  and  that  consequently  if  the  fish  could 
not  be  used  in  reduction  plants  there  would  be  a  useless  waste. 

The  handling  of  this  problem  has  not  been  an  easy  one.  Sardine 
canneries  having  reduction  plants  are  making  a  profit  out  of  their  waste 
and  this  gives  them  an  advantage  over  the  other  canneries.  Further 
than  this,  they  are  able  with  profit  to  divert  sardines  for  reduction  pur- 
poses which  have  become  soft  underneath  the  load  in  the  boat,  or  fish 
which  are  broken  or  do  not  otherwise  come  up  to  standard  and  by  so 
doing  they  make  use  only  of  the  fine  fish  for  canning.  The  tendency, 
however,  is  for  them  to  use  more  fish  than  they  should  for  reduction 
purposes.  The  canneries  which  are  not  equipped  for  converting  fish 
and  offal  into  fish  meal  and  oil  have  paid  the  fishermen  more  for  their 
fish  than  they  can  get  from  the  reduction  plant  which  buys  their  offal. 
As  a  consequence,  they  are  inclined  to  can  some  fish  which  might  better 
be  discarded  and  with  only  a  few  exceptions  they  pack  more  cases 
from  a  ton  of  fish  than  the  canneries  with  reduction  plants  and  they 
accuse  their  opponents  with  using  good  fish  for  fish  meal  and  of  using 
that  profit  to  underbid  them  in  the  sale  of  the  canned  product. 

It  has  been  extremely  difficult  to  regulate  the  percentage  of  fish  that 
is  discarded  in  this  way,  even  when  an  inspector  is  placed  in  the  cannery. 
Consequently  a  plan  of  cheeking  a  cannery's  daily  pack  with  the 
amount  of  fish  it  receives  has  been  adopted.  Their  receipts  are  obtained 
accurately  from  the  copies  of  the  receipts  issued  to  the  fishermen  and 
the  daily  pack  is  secured  from  the  memoranda  of  retort  or  comptometer 
records  from  which  the  cannery  makes  up  the  record  of  its  daily  pack. 
By  this  means  we  are  able  to  hold  their  waste  in  discarded  fish  and 
f-xcess  catches  within  definite  limits. 

In  the  matter  of  controlling  excess  catches  of  sardines  our  task  has 
also  been  difficult  for  fishing  conditions  vary  in  one  locality  through  a 
season   and  the    fishing   conditions   in   southern   California  are   very 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION.  73 

(litiVrent  from  those  at  ^loiitrn-y.  At  jNIonterey  sardines  are  found  in 
great  numbers  most  of  the  season  and  are  usually  cau^'lit  dose  to  the 
eanneries  and  witliin  a  ('(niiparatively  small  ai'ca.  TIh'  boats  most  of 
thr  time  arc  ;iliK'  to  t^-ct  their  allotted  limits  and  tlicfc  is  little  incentive 
to  iiiakf  an  ovcr-cati'h  with  Ihr  cxpct-tat  ion  that  (itliri-  boats  will  not  get 
their  limit  and  on  that  aeeount  they  will  be  able  to  sell  the  excess 
amount.  Further  than  that,  the  boats  are  usually  near  enough  together 
so  that  eaeh  knows  what  the  eateh  of  the  other  boats  is.  In  southern 
California  the  boats  (isli  mostly  far  from  the  canneries  and  scattered 
over  a  wide  area  so  that  they  are  not  able  to  regulate  the  total  catch.  To 
insure  the  eanneries  ninning  at  capacity  it  is  necessary  that  the  limits 
wliieh  the  eaiuieries  place  on  their  boats  be  slightly  in  excess  of  the 
capacity  of  the  canner\\  We  liave  found  by  experience  that  the  excess 
allowed  nnist.  ou  account  of  the  difference  in  fishing  conditions,  be 
greater  in  southern  California  than  at  Monterey.  The  percentage  of 
leeway  which  is  allowed  therefore,  is  greater  in  southern  California  than 
at  Monterey.  The  canners,  almost  without  exception,  are  cooperating 
with  us  and  are  willingly  pennitting  us  to  inspect  their  plants  and  the 
records  of  their  pack. 

The  regulation  of  the  use  of  fish  in  reduction  plants  we  believe  is 
working  out  quite  satisfactorily  and  in  accordance  with  the  wishes  of 
the  legislature.  Some  of  the  eanners  without  reduction  plants  and 
some  of  the  plants  not  connected  with  canneries  have  not  been  wholly 
satisfied.  But,  from  force  of  circumstances  they  are  at  a  slight  dis- 
advantage and  it  is  not  natural  that  they  should  be  entirely  satisfied. 
On  the  other  hand,  some  of  the  canners  with  reduction  plants  feel  that 
we  have  l)een  too  severe  with  our  regulations.  The  direct  fishing  for 
reduction  purposes  which  caused  the  passage  of  the  law  has  been  en- 
tirely stopped  and  over-eatches  and  waste  has  been  reduced  to  a  low 
percentage. 

PURSE  SEINE  FISHING. 
About  the  most  important  development  in  the  fisheries  during  the 
past  biennial  period  is  the  introduction  of  purse  seine  fishing  in  south- 
ern California  and  the  capture  by  this  means  of  large  quantities  of 
blue-fin  tuna.  The  tuna  canning  iiulustry  has  been  supported  by  the 
fish  known  as  the  long-liiuu'd  tuna  or  albaeore  which  is  caught  only 
with  hook  and  line.  As  already  .stated  in  discussing  the  tuna  investi- 
gations, the  catch  of  this  species  of  fish  until  this  year  had  been  de- 
creasing due,  most  likely,  to  a  natural  fluctuation  in  abundance  and  not 
to  over-fishing.  A  few  purse  seines  introduced  in  1918,  demonstrated 
that  the  other  varieties  of  tuna  may  be  caught  witli  nets.  In  1919  the 
number  of  purse  seine  boats  increased,  in  the  San  Pedro  district  where 


74  REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 

this  manner  of  fishing  is  chiefly  done,  from  nine  to  forty-one.  These 
boats  liad  a  very  profitable  season,  catching  nearly  eight  million 
pounds  of  blue-fin  tuna,  thus  making  up  the  partial  failure  of  the 
albaeore  catch.  Tliis  resulted  in  a  large  tuna  pack  which  the  canners  of 
the  district  sorely  needed.  In  1920  the  number  of  purse  seine  boats  was 
increased  to  103.  The  purse  seine  fishermens'  association  demanded  a 
higher  price  than  the  canners  believed  they  could  pay.  The  canners 
maintained  that  $125  per  ton  was  the  limit  they  could  pay,  and  subse- 
quent market  conditions  have  shown  that  figure  to  be  too  high.  "When 
the  fishermen  finallj^  decided  to  accept  this  price  they  were  unable  to 
find  the  blue-fin  tuna  in  sufficient  nvimbers  to  make  their  operations 
profitable.  The  result  of  the  season  was  that  some  of  the  boats  did  not 
operate  and  scarcely  a  half  dozen  of  them  made  their  expenses.  The 
albaeore  catch  by  the  hook  and  line  method,  however,  was  very  good  and 
the  canners  on  that  account  did  fairly  well. 

The  presence  of  these  purse  seine  boats,  many  of  which  have  come 
from  the  Puget  Sound  salmon  fisheries,  is  a  source  of  worry  to  us.  They 
have  insisted  on  fishing  within  the  prohibited  area  at  Catalina  Island 
when  tuna  were  to  be  found  there  and  have  had  little  respect  for  the 
law  which  forbids  their  presence  within  that  district  with  nets  on  their 
boats.  Our  southern  patrol  boat  has  had  to  make  numerous  arrests.  A 
more  serious  result  of  the  growth  of  purse  seine  fishing,  however,  is  the 
ill  effect  it  may  have  on  such  varieties  of  fish  as  the  barracuda  and 
white  sea  bass.  These  boats  are  engaged  iu  fishing  for  tuna  for  only 
about  three  months,  the  rest  of  the  year  many  of  them  fish  for  <-he 
markets.  One  of  these  boats  is  able  in  one  haul  of  their  net  to  take  more 
barracuda  or  mackerel  than  they  can  carry  on  their  boat.  The  markets 
which  are  not  prepared  to  freeze  and  hold  over  large  catches  until  the 
time  when  fish  are  not  plentiful,  are  easily  swamped,  and  it  often 
happens  that  large  quantities  of  these  fish,  caught  in  good  faith  for  the 
markets,  have  to  go  to  reduction  plants.  The  fishermen  have  shown  a 
willingness  to  cooperate  with  the  Commission  and  at  our  request  have 
at  times  put  limits  on  the  amount  any  boat  shall  bring  in.  The  losses 
come,  however,  on  days  when,  instead  of  only  a  few  boats  making 
catches,  a  large  number  of  boats  fishing  over  a  wide  area  make  good 
catches  simultaneously.  Provision  should  be  made  by  the  markets  to 
freeze  and  hold  these  over-catches  for  there  are  times  in  the  winter 
when  the  markets  are  practically  bare  of  fish. 

The  worst  feature  of  purse  seine  fishing,  which  cannot  very  well  be 
remedied  under  existing  laws,  is  the  catching  and  killing  of  undersized 
and  young  barracuda  and  white  sea  bass.  It  is  possible  the  catching  of 
these  two  varieties  of  fish  by  means  of  purse  nets  should  be  prohibited. 


REPORT   OP   THE   FISH    AND   GAME    COMMISSION.  75 

KELP  POTASH    INDUSTRY. 

At  the  time  of  our  last  Biennial  Report  the  kelp  beds  of  California 
were  being  taxed  to  their  utniast  to  furni.sh  pottush,  the  supply  of 
whieh  was  cut  off  from  Europe  by  the  war.  When  this  source  of  supi)ly 
was  cut  oft'  potash  manufactured  from  kelp  sold  readily  for  four  times 
the  pre-war  price.  About  -100,000  tons  of  kelp  were  being  cut  annually 
and  the  government  plant  at  Summerland  and  some  of  the  larger  com- 
])anies  were  making  every  effort  to  develop  and  obtain  a  market  for  the 
by-products  in  order  that  the  business  might  be  carried  on  profitably 
even  if  the  price  of  potash  should  fall  to  wliat  it  wa^  before  the  war. 
"We  ventured  the  opinion  at  that  time  that  some  of  the  companies  would 
be  able  to  continue  operations  through  the  sale  of  tlic  by -pioducts  which 
they  were  developing.  But  the  end  of  the  war  came  sooner  than 
expected  and  was  accompanied  by  a  decided  drop  in  the  price  of  potash. 
8oon  after  the  signing  of  the  armistice  nearly  all  kelp  harvesting  cea.sed 
for  as  yet  a  sufficient  market  had  not  been  found  for  the  by-products. 
At  the  immense,  three  million  dollar  plant  of  the  Hercules  Powder  Com- 
pany on  San  Diego  Bay,  where  the  fermentation  proce.?.s  was  used  to 
break  down  the  physical  and  chemical  structure  of  the  kelp,  many  by- 
products were  developed,  several  of  them  being  chemicals  which  had 
never  before  been  produced  in  commercial  cpiantities.  It  was  hoped 
that  use  for  these  materials  would  be  found  in  the  industrial  arts,  but 
so  far  no  good  market  has  l)een  found  for  them.  The  only  plant  which 
has  continued  to  operate  is  the  government  experimental  plant  located  at 
Summerland.  Here  they  have  continued  to  work  on  a  small  commercial 
scale  and  researches  have  been  continued  to  discover  more  economical 
ways  of  extracting  the  potash  and  the  different  by-products.  Here  be- 
sides the  potash  salts  such  by-products  as  kelp-oils,  creosote,  pitch,  am- 
monia, bleaching  carbons,  salt,  and  iodine  have  been  obtained  in  com- 
/nercial  ciuantitias.  To  quote  from  their  last  report:  "The  results 
obtained  to  date  indicate  that  it  will  be  possible  to  establish  on  kelp 
as  a  basic  raw  material  a  new  iVmerican  chemical  industry  of  consider- 
able size  and  of  importance  and  usefulness  to  the  nation."  From  the 
work  wliich  has  been  done  we  now  know  that  the  kelp  beds  of  California 
are  capable  of  yielding  500,000  tons  of  raw  kelp  annually  without  injury 
to  the  present  stand.  It  is  possible  that  this  great  industry  may  soon 
be  partially  revived,  but  at  the  present  time  it  is  at  a  standstill. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

(Signed)     N.  B.  Scopield, 
In  Charge,  Department  of  Commcrcml  Fisheries. 


76  REPORT    OF   THE   FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 

REPORT  OF  THE  BUREAU  OF  EDUCATION,  PUBLICITY 

AND  RESEARCH 

The  Honorable  Board  of  Fisk  and  Game  Commissioners  of  the  State  of 
California. 

Sirs:  We  have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  a  report  ou  the  work 
and  accomplishments  of  the  Bureau  of  Education,  Publicity  and  Re- 
search, covering  the  period  from  July  1,  1918,  to  June  30,  1920,  this 
being  the  third  report  since  the  inception  of  this  department.  Although 
war  conditions  prevented  an  enlargement  of  tlie  work,  yet  we  believe 
meritorious  accomplishments  in  the  field  of  education  and  publicity  have 
l)oen  achieved. 

EDUCATION   AND   PUBLICITY. 

LECTURES. 

The  Bureau  has  continued  to  emphasize  work  in  the  schools,  conse- 
ciuently  a  large  proportion  of  the  lectures  given  during  the  past  bien- 
nium  have  been  delivered  to  high  school  and  grammar  school  students. 
High  school  principals  have  been  particularly  sympathetic  with  the 
work,  and  in  many  instances  return  lectures  have  been  requested.  In 
some  instances  all  the  schools  in  a  city  have  been  concentrated  for  the 
purpose  of  hearing  a  lecture  and  seeing  wild  life  films.  It  has  been  sur- 
prising to  find  how  little  definite  information  regarding  the  life  history 
and  habits  of  game  birds  and  mammals  is  had  by  the  average  high 
school  student.  Furthermore,  there  is  evident  lack  of  information  as  to 
the  present  status  of  fish  and  game  and  the  need  for  its  conservation. 
As  the  lectures  are  often  followed  by  a  quiz,  or  the  demand  for  a 
written  paper,  by  the  biology  teacher,  the  results  should  prove  very 
much  worth  while. 

Early  in  1920,  the  California  Academy  of  Sciences  was  furnished 
with  a  series  of  four  popular  science  lectures  by  employees  of  the  Com- 
mission. 

Another  fruitful  field  which  has  been  entered  is  that  of  the  Boy 
Scouts  of  America.  Many  lectures  have  been  given  to  groups  of  scout- 
masters and  also  to  the  boys  themselves.  In  the  summer  of  1918  several 
boy  scout  summer  camp  groups  were  visited  and  instruction  given  by 
means  of  field  trips  and  camp-fire  talks. 

The  usual  series  of  nine  lectures  on  fi^sh  and  game  were  given  to  a 
large  class  in  general  forestry  at  the  University  of  California,  in  the 
spring  of  1919  and  again  in  1920.  Short  field  trips  designed  to  give 
students  a  first  hand  acquaintance  with  the  common  birds  on  the 
campus,  and  to  stimulate  their  interest  in  natural  history  were  also 
given.  The  response  of  this  group  of  students  has  been  particularly 
gratifying.  A  series  of  lectures  and  field  trips  were  also  given  to  a 
group  of  prospective  teachers  in  a  course  in  advanced  vertebrate  zoology, 


REPORT   OP   THE   PISH   AND   GAME    COMMISSION.  (  ( 

in  the  spring  of  1919.  Wo  believe  tliat  we  have  been  fortunate  in 
h.aving  this  opportunity  to  '/iw  a  course  of  instruction  to  University 
.students,  for  in  such  instruction,  we  are  reaching  many  prospective 
teachers  and  niatiy  wlio  will  hold  responsible  positions  in  the  state. 

The  lecture  schedule  would  have  been  expanded  had  there  not  been 
the  need  for  curtailing  ti-avoling  expenses.  Lectures  have  been  dis- 
tributed as  follows : 

TTigli  schools 20 

(_iranuuar   schools   17 

Normal   schools    3 

Thiiversities  and  colleges 21 

I'arent.s'  and  teachers'  tossociations 5 

Civic  clubs  and  public 59 

Boy   scouts    21 

Churches    4 

jMiseellanoous    12 

Total 162 

There  is  still  a  considerable  demand  for  a  collection  of  study  skins  of 
common  birds  to  be  used  as  a  loan  collection  for  schools.  Although  such 
a  collection  has  slowly  been  accumulating,  it  is  not  sufficiently  complete 
to  be  available  for  this  use.  When  completed  this  collection  could  be 
Icept  on  the  move  with  no  expense  to  the  Commission,  each  school  pay- 
ing the  expressage.  There  is  a  continuous  demand  from  teachers  for 
helpful  conservation  literature  and  new  material  needs  to  be  prepared. 

Nature  study  libraries  furnished  by  the  California  Nature  Study 
League  have  been  loaned  to  winter  resorts  and  augmented  libraries  of 
reference  books  have  been  used  in  connection  with  the  summer  resort 
work. 

MOTION    PICTURES. 

The  set  of  Salisbury  wild  life  films  owned  by  the  Commission  have 
l.ieen  in  almost  constant  use.  The  films  formed  the  basis  of  many  lec- 
tures, and  in  addition  have  been  displayed  in  many  cities  of  the  state. 
Not  only  do  these  films  depi<'it  the  home  life  of  game  birds  and  mai)iiiial> 
but  they  also  emphasize  the  need  for  fish  and  game  conservation.  Of 
particular  use  has  been  the  reel  showing  the  hatchery  operations.  The 
films  have  been  furnished  free  of  charge  to  schools  or  other  organiza- 
tions making  application,  providing  that  they  furnished  a  lantern  and 
operator.  All  of  the  high  schools  have  recently  been  circularized,  with 
the  result  that  the  films  are  being  shown  systematically  in  all  of  the  high 
schools  possessing  the  proper  projecting  apparatus.  Three  worn  dupli- 
cate films  have  been  given  wide  distribution  through  the  state  by  the 
University  Extension  Division. 


78  REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND    GAME   COMMISSION. 

One  reel  has  been  added  to  the  six  Salisbury  films.  This  one  was 
secured  by  the  Commission  itself  and  shows  the  albacore  and  tuna 
fisheries  of  southern  California.  The  reel  shows  the  fishing  grounds, 
the  catfhing  of  tlie  fish,  shipment,  and  the  processes  of  canning.  An- 
other reel  showing  the  sardine  industry  is  to  be  added  in  the  near 
future.  Two  hundred  feet  of  film  showing  sea  lions  on  Anno  Nuevo 
Island  has  also  been  secured. 

A  small  collection  of  lantern  slides  of  common  birds  and  mammals 
has  been  loaned  to  the  schools  on  several  occasions. 


Fig.  18.  Sacramento  school  children  arriving  from  a  nearby  school  to  hear  a 
lecture  on  wild  life  conservation  and  to  see  motion  pictures.  Photograph  by  H.  C. 
Bryant. 

PUBLICATIONS. 

The  continually  increasing  mailing  list  and  the  many  letters  received, 
lead  us  to  believe  that  our  quarterly  California  Fish  and  Game  is  prov- 
ing an  educational  force  in  the  state.  The  magazine  is  now  in  its  sixth 
volume.  A  glance  at  its  editorials  and  the  type  of  articles  which 
appear  should  convince  anyone  that  its  aim  is  "conservation  through 
education."  On  many  occasions  California  Fish  and  Game  has  been 
mentioned  as  the  best  publication  of  its  kind  in  the  United  States.  Out- 
standing among  the  numbers  issued  is  that  for  July,  1919,  which 
appeared  as  a  "Trout  Number."  An  article  on  "California  trout" 
gave  a  description  of  the  life  history  and  habits  of  all  the  different 
varieties  of  trout  found  in  the  state,  and  this  was  illustrated  with  four 
beautifully  colored  plates.  As  was  expected  the  demand  far  exceeded 
the  supply.  Volume  Five  (1919)  contained  222  pages  and  70  illustra- 
tions including  18  general  articles  and  more  than  220  shorter  items. 


REPORT    OF   THE   PISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION.  79 

IiiereHsed  ac^tivity  in  the  field  of  commercial  fisheries  is  evidenced  by 
the  publication  of  two  new  fish  bulletins  which  have  been  given  wide 
circulation.  A  department  in  California  Fish  and  Game  entitled 
"Notes  from  the  State  Fisheries  Laboratory"  has  famished  published 
results  of  the  activities  of  this  laboratory. 

A  large  part  of  the  material  appearing  in  the  "Bird  and  Arbor  Day 
Manual"  is.sued  by  the  State  Superintendent  of  Public;  Instruction  was 
furnished  by  this  Bureau.  This  manual  reaches  all  of  the  teachers  of 
the  state.  «' 

The  191G-1918  Biennial  Report  of  the  Commission,  edited  l)y  tliis 
Bureau,  although  reduced  in  size  and  attractiveness  for  economy,  never- 
theless, furnished  a  complete  record  of  the  activities  and  accomplish- 
ments during  the  biennial  period. 

Mention  should  also  be  made  of  a  work  on  the  "Game  Birds  of  Cali- 
foi-uia"  published  by  the  University  of  California  Press,  in  December 
191S.  in  which  this  Bureau  had  a  distinct  part,  your  director  being  a 
joint  author.  Tlie  book  contains  642  pages,  16  colored  plates  and  94 
line  drawings  and  according  to  reviewers  is  the  best  work  of  its  kind, 
f^ach  of  the  108  game  birds  of  the  state  is  described  and  introductory 
chapters  are  devoted  to  such  subjects  as:  Decrease  of  Game  and  Its 
Cau.ses;  Natural  Enemies  of  Game  Birds;  The  Gun  Club  in  California; 
History  of  Attempts  to  Introduce  Nonnative  Game  Birds;  The  Propaga- 
tion of  Game  Birds;  Legislation  Relating  to  Game  Birds  in  California. 

Our  office  is  now  equipped  witli  a  inimeograpli  and  an  addressograpii 
and  as  a  result  a  long  series  of  newspaper  items  have  been  sent  to  all 
the  prominent  newspapers  of  the  state.  At  the  top  of  the  paper  utilized 
is  a  heading  which  points  out  that  the  item  is  part  of  the  free  news  serv- 
ice furnished  by  the  California  Fish  and  Game  Commission,  with  a  note 
addressed  to  the  editor  suggesting  the  purpose  and  value  of  the  news 
service.  It  has  been  gratifying  to  note  how  regularly  the  newspapers 
print  these  items.  A  particularly  well  conducted  campaign  regarding 
the  summer  work  was  made  possible  by  the  California  Nature  Study 
Ijeague.  It  was  estimated  that  40,000,000  people  were  reached  liy  this 
publicity. 

EXHIBITS. 
In  the  fall  of  1918  and  again  in  1919  in  connection  with  exhibits  at 
the  State  Fair  at  Sacramento,  the  different  publications  of  the  Commis- 
sion were  exhibited,  additions  to  the  mailing  list  taken  and  a  display 
of  films  made.  In  connection  with  the  summer  resort  work,  a  wall  rack 
displaying  colored  pictures  of  fish  and  game  proved  very  useful.  This 
Bureau  also  cooperated  in  a  bird  display  shown  in  connection  with  the 
annual  flower  show  given  at  the  St.  Francis  Hotel,  in  San  Francisco. 

6—7857 


80  REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 

SUMMER   RESORT  WORK. 

The  statement  in  our  last  report  suggesting  that  the  summer  vaca- 
tionist finds  himself  in  close  touch  with  nature,  and  is  in  a  particularly- 
susceptible  mood  to  receive  information  on  wild  life,  and  that  the  vaca- 
tion camps  and  mountain  resorts  of  the  state  constitute  a  neglected 
opportunity  for  additional  work,  has  been  clearly  demonstrated  during 
the  past  two  years.  During  the  summer  of  1919,  the  Tahoe  resorts  were 
chosen  as  a  field  for  the  work.  Each  resort  around  the  Lake  was  in- 
vited to  institute  educational  work  relating  to  wild  life.  Five  of  the 
larger  resorts  having  accepted  our  proposition,  a  campaign  plan  was 
outlined  and  extensive  newspaper  publicity  given  the  project. 

In  order  to  avoid  the  appearance  of  a  cut  and  dried  education  prop- 
aganda it  seemed  best  to  first  of  all  stimulate  people's  interest  in  the 
out-of-doors  and  the  wild  things  encountered  on  trips  afield,  and 
secondly,  to  furnish  information  on  the  status  and  needs  of  fish  and 
game  by  means  of  illustrated  lectures.  There  was  offered,  therefore,  at 
each  resort  a  series  of  field  excursions  designed  to  bring  to  each  partici- 
pant the  ability  to  recognize  and  name  birds,  mammals,  trees  and  insects 
encountered  on  the  summer  vacation.  The  classes  were  limited  to 
twenty  and  the  instructor  led  them  along  the  mountain  trails,  pointing 
out  the  different  kinds  of  plants  and  animals,  and  adding  some  item 
of  interest  regarding  their  life  history,  status  and  the  need  for  con- 
serving them.     Special  excursions  were  offered  for  children. 

Great  interest  was  shown  in  these  trips  afield.  At  Fallen  Leaf  the 
interest  Avas  so  great  that  it  was  almost  impossible  to  care  for  the 
crowds.  In  many  instances  duplicate  excursions  had  to  be  made  in 
order  to  limit  the  number  of  students.  In  all  42  separate  field 
trips  were  conducted.  The  total  attendance  of  adults  was  362  and  that 
in  the  children's  classes,  157.  The  fact  that  many  school  teachers  at- 
tended these  trips  emphasized  the  value  of  the  work;  for  invariably 
these  teachers  will  carry  to  their  pupils  the  conservation  messages  given. 

In  the  evenings  a  series  of  illustrated  lectures  was  offered.  The  lec- 
tures were  designed  not  only  to  be  entertaining,  but  to  carry  facts 
valuable  in  developing  public  sentiment  favorable  to  fish  and  game  con- 
servation. Among  the  subjects  used  were:  The  Fish  and  Fisheries  of 
California;  Game  and  Fur-Bearing  Mammals  of  California;  The  Eco- 
nomic Value  of  Birds ;  Bird  IMigration ;  Methods  of  Wild  Life  Conserva- 
tion ;  Wild  Animal  Life  in  California.  Twenty-two  lectures  in  all  were 
given  and  the  total  attendance  was  2,240.  It  can  be  seen,  therefore,  that 
the  average  attendance  was  more  than  100.  This  is  the  more  encourag- 
ing in  that  a  series  of  lectures  was  advertised  and  the  attendance  con- 
tinued good  throughout  each  series. 


I 


REPORT   OP   THE   FISH    AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 


81 


The  California  Nature  Study  Leai^uc  Ijccaiiie  so  inudi  interested  in 
this  new  work  that  tliey  furnished  a  eonii)ac't  nature  study  library  to  be 
placed  in  each  of  the  summer  resorts  where  the  work  was  instituted. 
Tiiis  library  was  supplemented  by  colored  pictures  of  fisli  and  game  and 
other  illustrative  material. 

The  work  at  Tahoe  attracted  the  attention  of  the  Superintendent  of 
National  Parks,  ]\Ir.  Stephen  T.  INIatlu  i-,  and  in  U)20  he  .suggested  that 
the  Commission  cooperate  in  similar  work  for  Yosemite  National  Park. 
A^'  a  consequence,  there    was    installed    in    the    summer    of    1020    in 


I"n;.    1!).      A   Yosemite   aLiilicme   listening   to  a  conservation   lecture,      .^iminiir  vaca- 
ionists  are  in  an  unusually  receptive  mood  for  information  on  tisli  and  game.      Photo- 
urapli  by  Curry  Camping  Company. 

Ycseinitc  National  Park  what  was  called  a  "Free  Nature  (Juide  Serv- 
ice." Illustrated  lectures  dealing  with  wild  life  and  wild  life  conserva- 
tion were  given  in  the  evenings  at  the  different  resorts,  and  trips  afield 
were  scheduled  for  morning  and  afternoon.  Small  nature  study  libraries 
were  made  available  at  two  different  places  in  the  Valley,  and  an  office 
hour  gave  visitors  a  chance  to  have  questions  relating  to  natural  history 
properly  answered.  Considering  that  the  effort  was  practically  new  and 
untried,  the  results  were  remarkable.  During  the  month  of  June  alone, 
the  only  part  of  the  season  covered  in  this  report,  10,815  persons  were 
reached  through  the  medium  of  lectures,  eighteen  being  given ;  and  the 
attendance  on  the  thirty-five  scheduled  trips  afield  was  -483.     Further 


dd 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 


information  on  wild  life  wa-s  furnished  by  some  "nature  notes"  which 
were  run  regularly  on  the  back  of  the  menus  at  Yosemite  Lodge  and  the 
Sentinel  Hotel. 

On  the  field  excursions  it  was  not  uncommon  to  come  upon  deer, 
bandtailed  pigeons  and  mountain  quail,  thus  giving  a  splendid  oppor- 
tunity to  furnish  information  on  the  status  of  the  game  and  the  means 
whereby  it  may  be  conserved.  Furthermore,  it  was  possible  to  convince 
everyone  of  the  efficacy  of  a  game  refuge,  for  the  park  itself  clearly 
demonstrates  the  value  of  such  a  reserve. 

It  hardl}'  seems  necessary  to  emphasize  that  a  larger  number  of  per- 
sons were  reached,  and  at  a  time  when  they  were  most  ready  to  learn, 


Fig.  Uii.  I'lidtr  llic  uistiiu/tion  di  a  nature  sui'li'  i-'  Yosemite  \'alley.  Typical  of 
the  Kisli  and  Game  Commission'!s  summei-  resort  woi-k.  Although  this  particular 
group  wore  not  studying  the  deer  shown  in  the  upper  left-hand  corner,  many  oppor- 
tunities for  such  H  study  were  offered  to  similar  groups.    Photograph  by  H.  C.  Bryant. 

than  could  have  been  reached  in  any  other  way.  We  are  convinced 
that  this  work  has  been  the  most  profitable  of  any  educational  work  out- 
lined by  the  Commission,  which  has  been  undertaken  up  to  the  present 
time.  If  we  may  .judge  by  the  enthusiasm  of  those  who  came  in  contact 
with  the  Nature  Guide  work  in  the  Yosemite,  there  is  every  reason  to 
believe  that  it  will  not  only  be  continued  in  the  Yosemite  National  Park, 
but  that  it  will  spread  to  the  other  national  parks  of  our*  country.  If 
tliis  proves  to  be  true,  it  will  be  to  the  everlasting  credit  of  the  Com- 
mission that  it  was  largely  responsible  for  the  beginning  of  so  impor- 
tiuit  a  project  connected  witli  the  recreation  and  education  of  the  people. 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH    AXD   GAME    COMMISSION.  83 

RESEARCH, 
Ducks  versus   Rice. 

There  has  been  no  iiioi'i'  impoctnnt  pcolilciii  confronting  the  Com- 
mission (luririL;'  I  lie  past  liictiiiiiiiu  than  tliat  relating  to  ducks  and  the 
I'iee  grower.  In  tln'  fall  of  11)18  misleading  news  items  led  farmers 
to  believe  the  rice  indnstry  was  threatened  dne  to  the  depredations  of 
diieks,  and  the  sportsmen  to  believe  that  ducks  were  being  slaughtered 
by  rice  growers  in  the  Sacramento  Valley  in  order  to  save  the  crops.  In 
cooperation  with  tlie  TTiiited  States  l^iological  Survey,  an  investigation 
wa.s  made  to  detrrniinc  tlie  real  damage  caused  t)\  ttn'  ducks  and  to 
determine  also,  some  solution  for  the  prolilem  which  had  become  an  in- 
tense one.    Investigation  showed : 

(1)  The  consensus  of  opinion  of  rice  growers  obtained  through  in- 
terviews was  that  owners  should  legally  be  allowed  to  protect  crops  but 
the  unre.stricted  hunting  wouhl  cause  more  damage  to  the  rice  than  the 
ducks.  Much  of  the  agitation  was  started  by  townspeople  who  wanted 
a  chance  to  hunt  before  the  season  opened. 

(2)  Damage  to  rice  caused  by  ducks  is  limited  in  extent,  hundreds  of 
growers  never  having  sustained  hxss.  The  greatest  damage  in  1918 
was  found  between  Maxwell  and  Colusa,  in  Colusa  County. 

(3)  Thin  rice  or  rice  with  open  water  is  most  often  attacked  by  ducks. 

(4)  The  total  acreage  of  growing  rice  destroyed  in  1918  amounted 
to  not  more  than  300  acres  out  of  145,000  planted  in  the  Sacramento 
Valley. 

(5)  The  pintail  duck  is  the  only  duck  causing  appreciable  damage. 

(6)  Such  suggested  methods  as  an  earlier  open  season  and  market 
hunting  must  be  branded  as  impractical  methods  of  solving  the  problem. 

(7)  Such  control  measures  as  herding  and  bombing  have  been  proved 
feasilile  and  should  be  depended  upon.  Intelligent  growers  can  outwit 
the  ducks  if  they  make  the  attempt. 

The  misuse  of  permits  which  were  first  granted  led  to  a  rescinding 
of  all  permits  and  to  concentration  on  the  use  of  bombs  and  fireworks 
for  frightening  birds  from  the  fields. 

As  a  consequence  of  the  attitude  taken  by  the  government,  agitation 
has  practically  ceased,  for  those  largely  responsible  for  the  disturbance 
have  become  discouraged  because  they  are  unable  to  shoot  before  the 
season  is  open,  while  those  few  rice  growers  in  need  of  protection  have 
been  able  to  successfully  frighten  the  ducks  from  the  fields  by  use  of 
bombs  and  more  recently  by  use  of  a  carbide  automatic  gun. 

OTHER  INVESTIGATIONS. 
In  December,  1919,  an  investigation  was  made  of  the  fisheries  and  bird 
life  of  Salton  Sea,  in  Imperial  County.  Some  valuable  data  on  the 
history  and  status  of  the  mullet  fishery,  which  has  recently  become  im- 
portant, was  obtained  as  well  as  data  on  wintering  wild  fowl  and  dam- 
age to  winter  grain  crops  by  ducks. 


84 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 


Considerable  progress  has  been  made  in  the  examination  of  duck 
stomachs  with  the  idea  of  publishing  an  article  on  the  food  habits  of 
ducks  in  California.  ]\Iost  of  the  material  now  on  hand  has  been  gont 
over,  and  a  full  report  is  now  in  preparation, 

A  cursory  study  of  the  fur-bearing  mammals  of  the  state  and  esti- 
mates of  the  annual  take  have  been  prepared.  This  data  has  now  been 
turned  over  to  the  Museum  of  Vertebrate  Zoolog>%  of  the  University  of 
California,  where  Mr.  Joseph  Dixon  is  undertaking  the  preparation  of  a 


F'lo.   21.     AVild    pintail    ducks    being   fed    on    ilie    lawns    surrounding    Lake    Merritt, 
Oakland,  California's  first  game  refuge.      Photograph  by  H.  C.  Bryant,  January  6,  1919. 

full  report  illustrated  with  colored  plates  by  America 's  foremost  artists. 
It  is  expected  that  at  least  three  years  work  will  be  required  before  the 
results  of  the  investigation  will  be  ready  for  publication. 

A  list  of  all  of  the  publications  of  the  Commission  together  with  a 
finding  index  has  been  prepared  and  is  now  ready  for  publication.  A 
history  of  the  Fish  and  Game  Commission  is  also  being  compiled. 

In  addition  to  the  work  outlined  above  there  has  been  the  routine 
work  of  estimating  the  annual  deer  kill,  and  the  study  and  filing  of  the 
reports  made  to  the  Commission  by  forest  officers.  The  latter  contain 
much  valuable  data  relative  to  the  status  of  fish  and  game. 

The  holders  of  scientific  collectors'  permits  now  number  about  140, 
nearly  a  third  of  whom  are  collecting  for  museums  and  schools.  Each  is 
required  to  make  a  full  report  to  the  Commission  of  their  activities  for 
the  year.     Permits  are  issued  only  to  those  competent  to  exercise  the 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION.  85 

privilege  for  the  advancement  of  knowledge.  Accordingly,  much  valu- 
able ornithological  and  mammalogical  work  is  being  accomplished  by 
the  scientific  collector  in  this  state. 

CONCLUSION. 
Tliat  this  Bureau  is  reaching  the  public  with  increasing  success  is 
evident  from  the  fact  that  the  persons  reached  through  the  medium  of 
lectures  total  36,555,  through  trips  afield,  1,308  and  through  motion 
picture  displays  11,945,  making  a  total  of  49,808,  in  addition  to  the 
thousands  reached  through  the  medium  of  the  printed  word. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

(Signed)     Harold  C.  Bryant, 
In  Charge,  Education,  Fiiblicity  and  Research. 


REPORT  OF  THE  LEGAL  DEPARTMENT. 

The  Honorable  Board  of  Fish  and  Game  Commissioners  of  the  State 
of  California. 

Sirs:  I  herewith  submit  to  you  a  report  of  the  work  performed  by 
the  Legal  Department  for  the  two  years  ending  June  30,  1920.  ]\Iost 
of  the  work  of  this  department  is  in  conjunction  with  the  other  depart- 
ments wuth  the  exception  of  the  prosecution  of  violators;  therefore, 
much  detail  is  eliminated  for  the  reason  that  it  would  simply  be  a  repe- 
tition of  the  statements  found  in  the  reports  of  the  various  departments. 

During  this  biennial  period  1891  arrests  w^ere  made  of  which  number 
1707  were  convicted,  150  dismissed  or  acquitted  and  34  cases  still  pend- 
ing. 

The  amount  collected  in  fines  was  $46,373  and  the  number  of  days 
imprisonment  imposed  on  violators  was  324. 

The  number  of  arrests  for  this  biennial  period  shows  a  slight  increase 
over  the  former  report  but  the  aggregate  in  fines  imposed  and  collected 
has  increased  almost  50  per  cent,  while  the  jail  sentences  imposed  show  a 
marked  decrease  over  the  same  period.  This  decrease  in  jail  sentences 
is  no  doubt  due  to  the  fact  that  probation  law  has  had  much  to  do  with 
the  reluctance  with  which  judges  impose  jail  sentences  on  almost  all 
malefactors. 

The  district  attorneys  throughout  the  state,  with  but  few  exceptions, 
have  cooperated  with  the  Commission  and  have  rendered  valuable 
assistance  in  the  prosecution  of  violators,  and  the  justices  of  the  peace, 
as  shown  by  the  amount  of  fines  collected,  are  imposing  heavier  sen- 
tences for  violations  of  the  fish  and  game  laws. 


86  REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND    GAME   COMMISSION, 

The  past  two  years  has  shown  a  marked  increase  in  the  number  of 
convictions  had  where  jury  trials  were  demanded  by  defendants,  par- 
ticularly in  the  few  counties  where  formerly  a  conviction  could  scarcely, 
if  ever,  be  had  against  a  game  violator. 

In  these  sparsely  settled  counties  the  residents  felt  the  game  belonged 
to  them  and  they  could  kill  it  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  but  the  work 
of  the  Commission  along  educational  lines  and  the  vigorous  prosecution 
of  violators  has  hcvn  the  means  of  teaching  the  people  the  value  of  the 
game  as  a  natural  resource,  as  well  as  that  all  violators  will  be  vigor- 
ously prosecuted  irrespective  of  the  result  of  a  trial ;  as  a  consequence 
there  is  scarcely  a  county  in  which  a  conviction  cannot  be  had  by  jury 
where  the  evidence  warrants. 

Much  work  has  been  done  in  the  enforcement  of  the  screen  and  ladder 
law,  and  many  of  these  devices  have  been  installed.  Surveys  are  being 
made  and  hearings  held  where  demanded.  But  the  greatest  difficulty  is 
in  compelling  ditch  owners  to  maintain  the  screens  after  they  are  once 
installed,  for  in  many  instances  the  ditch  owners  take  the  screens  out  to 
clean  the  ditches  and  fail  to  return  them  until  prosecution  is  threatened 
or  begun.  I  !  -s?'?!]  ^1 

The  appropriation  of  the  river  waters  of  the  State  of  California  for 
irrigation  and  power  purposes  and  the  erection  of  large  dams  for  im- 
pounding purposes  has  become  a  serious  menace  to  the  run  of  fish 
unless  laws  are  enacted  or  means  can  be  adopted  whereby  the  corpora- 
tions taking  the  water  from  these  rivers  can  be  compelled  to  permit 
sufficient  water  to  pass  down  the  natural  channel  of  the  rivers,  in 
question,  at  all  times  sufficient  to  sustain  fish  life,  the  run  of  fish  will  be 
ultimately  exterminated  and  that  shortl,y. 

The  Anderson-Cottonwood  Irrigation  District  has  constructed  a  dam 
on  the  Sacramento  River  above  Eedding  that  prevents  the  free  passage 
of  fish  and  is  interfering  with  the  salmon  run.  A  notice  was  served  on 
the  district  to  construct  a  fishway  on  the  dam,  but  so  far  the  order  has 
been  ignored  and  proceedings  are  about  to  be  begun  to  compel  the  dis- 
trict to  install  the  fishway.  The  District  Attorney  of  Shasta  County 
has  been  requested  by  this  Commission  and  the  United  States  Bureau 
of  Fisheries  to  begin  an  action  against  the  district  to  compel  an  installa- 
tion of  the  fishway,  for  under  the  law  as  it  now  stands  the  District  At- 
torney is  the  officer  whose  duty  it  is  to  bring  an  action  to  abate  this 
nuisance  and  prevent  the  destruction  of  one  of  the  most  valuable  run  of 
salmon  in  California. 

A  case  was  prosecuted  against  the  Eed  River  Lumber  Company  at 
Westwood,  Lassen  County,  for  the  pollution  by  sawdust  of  Robbers 
Creek,  a  tributary  of  the  Feather  River,  and  a  conviction  had  in  the 
Superior  Court  of  Lassen  County.     The  creek  ran  through  the  mill 


REPORT   OF   THE   PISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION.  87 

grounds.    After  the  convietion,  the  coinpaiiy  diverted  the  entire  .stream 
around  the  mill  and  away  from  the  source  of  pollution. 

In  the  month  of  Deeemhcr  litll)  tlie  Kngels  Copper  .Milling,'  Company 
ill  I'lumas  County  was  tried  and  an  inrmaiiat  i(»ii  liled  against  it  for  the 
pollution  of  Ilights  Creek  by  depositing  the  refuse  from  its  mill  into 
the  ereek.  The  ease  was  tried  l)efore  J.  O.  ^loiicur  without  a  jury, 
the  evidence  showed  that  tlie  stream  for  a  distance  of  over  five  miles 
from  the  plant  was  polluted  to  the  extent  that  practically  all  fish  life 
had  been  destroyed,  yet  notwithstanding  the  testimony  the  case  was  dis- 
mi.ssed.  Tins  was  one  of  the  worst  cases  of  pollution  of  public  waters 
of  the  state  with  \\hi('h  this  Conmiission  has  had  to  deal. 

The  most  important  decisions  rendered  on  the  subject  of  fish  and 
game  during  this  biennial  peri(Hl  was  in  the  case  of  Suttori  vs.  Peck- 
ham  et  al.  by  the  District  Court  of  Appeal.  Suttori  was  arrested  for 
using  a  net  in  Fish  and  Game  District  No.  20  in  violation  of  Section 
G36,  Penal  Code,  and  brought  an  action  in  conversion  against  Justice 
of  the  Peace  Peckham  et  al.  for  the  fish  seized  by  the  officer  in  making 
the  arrest.  The  plaintiff  contended  that  the  law  was  unconstitutional 
in  that  the  state  had  no  jurisdiction  over  the  waters  surrounding  Santa 
Catalina  Island  and  the  court  in  deciding  the  case  held  that  the  "state 
has  jurisdiction  a  marine  league  at  sea  in  all  directions  from  the  shore 
of  the  island  in  question."  This  decision  determines  the  right  of  the 
legislature  to  pass  laws  for  the  protection  of  fish  not  only  within  the 
three  mile  limit  of  the  state  but  also  within  the  three  mile  limit  of  all 
islands  adjacent  thereto. 

Working  under  a  written  agreement,  the  United  States  Forest  Service 
has  cooperated  with  the  Fish  and  Game  Commission  in  the  enforcement 
of  fish  and  game  laws  in  the  forest  reserves. 

Since  the  last  biennial  report  the  Government  of  the  United  States 
under  a  treaty  with  Great  Britain  for  the  protection  of  migrators^  birds 
of  United  States  and  Canada  has  taken  over  the  protection  of  migra- 
tory birds  and  placed  them  under  the  Department  of  Agriculture.  By 
an  act  of  congress,  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture  is  authorized  to  make 
regulations  for  seasons  when  such  birds  may  be  lawfully  killed,  taken 
and  possessed,  and  has  conferred  upon  the  several  states  the  right  to 
pass  laws  not  inconsistent  with  the  regulations  of  the  Department  of 
Agriculture  and  to  enforce  the  same.  Under  the  regulations  of  the 
Department  of  Agriculture  the  sale  of  migratory  birds  is  prohibited. 
This  regulation  has  done  much  to  prevent  the  unlawful  traffic  in  game 
and  has  practically  eliminated  the  market  hunter  wlio  knew  neither 
bag  limit  nor  season.  \     '\'M.W 

Respectfully  submitted. 

(Signed)     Robert  D.  Duke, 

Attorney. 


88  REPORT   OP   THE  FISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 

REPORT  OF  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  WATER  POLLUTION. 

The  Jlonorable  Board  of  Fish  and  Game  Commissioners  of  the  State 
of  California. 

Sirs  :  Tliere  has  been  much  less  pollution  of  state  waters  during  the 
last  two  3'ears  than  in  like  periods  in  the  past.  This  is  probably  due  to 
the  following  reasons: 

First — The  larger  firms  and  corporations  have  been  convinced  that 
much,  if  not  most,  of  the  (so  called)  "waste"  is  of  value  either  in  its 
original  state  or,  at  small  cost,  turned  into  a  by-product.  Thus  the 
Standard  Oil  Company  of  California  recovers  both  acid  and  asphaltum 
from  the  "sludge"  from  the  lubricating  stills  (which  was  formerly 
discarded  as  worthless),  and  makes  a  fair  profit  on  the  investment  and 
labor. 

The  Mason  By-Products  Company,  (formerly  the  Mason  Malt  Whis- 
key and  Distilling  Company),  has  found  a  greater  profit  in  its  "waste" 
than  in  its  alcohol. 

The  gas  companies,  realizing  the  immense  value  of  lampblack  and 
tar  as  a  fuel,  would  gladly  recover  the  amount,  which  in  past  years 
was  dumped  into  the  bay,  if  it  were  possible  and  thus  effect  a  still 
more  material  saving  in  their  oil  bill.  It  may  be  well  to  state,  in  this 
connection,  that  the  "Jones"  generators  (used  in  nearly  all  of  the 
Pacific  Gas  and  Electric  gas  plants  and  in  most  of  the  other  plants 
manufacturing  more  than  a  million  feet  per  day),  produce  the  required 
quality  of  gas  with  about  one-third  of  the  amount  of  lampblack  for- 
merly resulting. 

Second — The  enormously  increased  cost  of  petroleum,  both  in  crude 
and  refined  forms,  has  forced  both  manufacturers  and  consumers  to 
utilize  every  possible  means  to  prevent  leakage  and  recover  all  oil 
which  has  escaped  as  the  result  of  unavoidable  accidents.  Thus,  firms 
which  installed  separating  boxes,  filters  and  other  means  of  retaining 
oil  "waste"  at  our  request  or  to  avoid  prosecution,  now  find  that  these 
improvements  have  more  than  paid  for  themselves  in  saving  of  oil. 

Examples  of  the  foregoing  are  the  Doheney  Pacific  and  Associated 
Oil  Companies  at  Casmalia,  Santa  Barbara  County,  against  whom  com- 
plaints were  filed  charging  pollution.  They  have  expended  about 
thirty  thousand  dollars  in  the  purchase  and  improvement  of  a  tract 
of  land  adjoining  their  property  and  it  is  now  an  enormous  settling 
basin  with  its  own  pumping  plant,  pipes,  ditches  and  tanks.  The  pollu- 
tion has  ceased  and  the  saving  will  soon  pay  for  the  work.  The  South- 
ern Pacific  Company  has  constructed  a  concrete  wall,  or  dike,  in  the 
Sacramento  River  at  Dunsmuir,  at  a  cost  in  excess  of  twenty  thousand 
dollars,  which  retains  and  permits  the  recovery  of  the  oil  which  has 


REPORT   OP   THE   FISH   AND    GAME   COMMISSION.  89 

been  seeping  out  of  the  ^ards  for  several  years  past.  I  have  been  unable 
to  get  figures  on  the  actual  amount  of  oil  thus  recovered  but  it  must  be 
considerable. 

There  is  still  some  complaint  about  "tankers"  pumping  ballast  out- 
side the  entrance  of  San  Luis  Bay  but  this  practice  has  evidently  ceased 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  Farallones  and  San  Francisco  lightship. 

A  concrete  separator  has  been  constructed  by  the  Union  Oil  Com- 
pany at  Avila  to  recover  the  oil  leakage  from  the  "topping"  plant 
and  the  Pacific  Gas  and  Electric  Company  have  done  likewise  at  Vallejo 
to  retain  lampblack. 

Prohibition  has,  temporarily  at  least,  aided  the  cause  by  eliminating 
the  winery  and  distillery,  both  of  which  were  sources  of  pollution  par- 
ticularly deadly  to  fish. 

There  are  treble  the  number  of  small  concerns  using  fuel  oil  than 
existed  prior  to  1918,  all  of  which  require  frequent  inspection.  Small 
leaks  may  amount  to  nothing  individually  but  the  aggregate  may  run 
into  barrels. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

(Signed)     A.  M.  Fairfield, 
In  Charge,  Department  of  Water  Pollution. 


REPORT  OF  SAN  FRANCISCO  DISTRICT. 

The  Honorahle  Board  of  Fish  and  Game  Commissioners  for  the  State 
of  California. 

Sirs:  We  herewith  submit  a  report  for  the  San  Francisco  District 
covering  the  period  from  July  1,  1918  to  June  30,  1920. 

PERSONNEL. 

The  Fish  and  Game  Commission  has  been  particularly  fortunate  in 
retaining  practically  all  of  its  employees  during  the  strenuous  times 
of  the  past  several  years.  Although  many  employees  obeyed  the  call 
to  arms,  they  all  returned  safely  at  the  close  of  the  war.  The  higher 
wages  paid  in  other  lines  of  work  proved  attractive  to  only  a  few.  For 
the  most  part  their  interest  and  loyalty  held  them  even  though  it  meant 
financial  loss. 

GAME   CONDITIONS. 

On  account  of  the  dry  season  the  duck  and  goose  shooting  has  not 

been  as  good  as  usual.    The  only  part  of  the  state  where  waterfowl  were 

found  in  normal  numbers  was  the  Sacramento  Valley.     In  the  San 

Joaquin  Valley  there  was  practically  no  loafing  water  and  for  the  most 


90  REPORT   OF   THE   PISH   AND    GAME   COMMISSION. 

part  birds  were  scarce.  In  the  Siiisun  district  shooting  held  up  very 
well  on  certain  grounds,  but  was  indifferent  on  others.  In  the  Bay 
region  shooting  was  good  in  the  1918-19  season,  but  in  the  1919-20 
season  there  were  far  less  birds. 

It  is  probable  that  the  early  flights  of  birds  on  account  of  the  scarcity 
of  open  water  went  on  through  the  state  without  stopping.  With  the 
return  of  normal  wiiiters  good  hunting  should  be  had  in  all  the  duck 
districts. 

While  the  dry  seasons  have  not  been  favorable  for  waterfowl  they 
have  been  excellent  for  quail.  This  with  the  late  opening  of  the  season, 
the  middle  of  November,  has  given  the  birds  an  opportunity  to  keep 
ahead  of  the  hunters  and  throughout  the  Coast  district  there  has  been 
a  notable  increase.  It  is  apparent  that  with  favorable  breeding  seasons 
and  the  continuance  of  the  present  law  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  put 
further  restrictions  in  force  in  order  to  maintain  a  constant  supply  of 
quail. 

Doves  have  increased  in  all  parts  of  the  state  on  account  of  the  fact 
that  the  law  protects  them  during  the  greater  part  of  the  nesting  season. 
In  certain  sections  nesting  birds  are  found  even  later  than  the  first  of 
September,  but  in  most  parts  of  the  state  the  young  are  out  of  the  nest 
and  very  well  able  to  take  care  of  themselves  by  that  date.  With  the 
present  open  season  doves  should  increase  as  they  are  rather  prolific 
breeders  and  can  stand  a  considerable  drain. 

Mountain  quail  have  increased  very  well  both  in  the  coast  and  the 
Sierra  regions.  The  mountain  quail  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  birds 
in  our  state.  Its  cousin,  the  valley  quail,  will  breed  from  sea  level  to 
an  elevation  of  over  7,000  feet,  but  the  mountain  quail  in  most  of  the 
state  practically  never  breeds  below  2,000  feet  except  in  the  north  coast 
district.  Just  why  this  is  so  is  one  of  the  mysteries  of  nature.  From 
the  human  point  of  view  there  is  no  reason  why  congenial  conditions 
could  not  be  found  at  a  lower  elevation.  Food  is  abundant  and  the 
temperature  is  not  altogether  different. 

The  abundance  of  mountain  quail  depends  more  upon  the  mildness 
of  the  winters  than  on  hunting.  A  cold  winter,  with  heavy  snowfall, 
sometimes  wipes  out  entire  coveys.  The  season  for  hunting  mountain 
quail  in  the  Sierra  districts,  opens  somewhat  early.  The  young  birds 
have  not  fully  developed  by  September  1st  and  should  not  be  killed. 

Grouse  are  still  commonly  found  in  the  pine  belt  but  are  not  abund- 
ant. The  chief  factor  in  preventing  them  from  becoming  more  com- 
mon is  the  grazing  of  sheep  in  their  breeding  range.  Many  nests  are 
destroyed  by  the  sheep. 

Three  species  of  game  make  California  most  attractive  to  the  sports- 
man—ducks, quail  and  deer.    It  is  difficult  to  estimate  the  number  of 


REPORT   0**   THE   FISH    AND    GAME   COMMISSION.  Ol 

liiiuU'i'.s  that  go  after  tleer  during  tlu!  opvn  .season,  but  it  is  safe  to  say 
there  are  not  less  than  50,000.  That  there  are  deer  for  these  men  to 
hunt  is  due  to  the  fact  that  California  is  a  natural  deer  state.  There  is 
an  abundance  of  wild  brush-covered  lands  and  we  also  have  had  laws 
that  gave  protection  and  were  enforced.  In  1905,  the  present  law  allow- 
ing the  killing  of  two  bucks  per  season  was  pas.sed.  Previous  to  that 
time  the  limit  had  been  three.  Since  1905,  the  population  of  the  state 
luis  increased  by  approximately  one  million.  Naturally  the  hunters  have 
increased  and  the  facilities  for  getting  into  the  deer  country  have  in- 
creased more  than  100  per  cent,  with  the  development  of  the  automobile. 
J)uring  this  time  the  deer  cover  has  been  greatly  reduced  and  the  deer 
are  having  more  and  more  difficulty  in  keeping  out  of  the  way  of  the 
hunters.  It  is  extremely  probable  that  within  a  very  short  time  a  one- 
burk  law  will  have  to  be  put  in  force. 

Tlicre  is  .still  an  impres.sion  among  sportsmen  that  it  would  be  well 
to  allow  the  killing  of  deer  of  both  sexes.  The  old  story  of  too  many 
liarren  does  is  the  excuse.  There  are  men  who  claim  that  they  can  tell  a 
barren  dee  by  the  color  of  the  hair,  and  from  other  characteristics.  We 
have  never  met  a  man  who  on  sight  could  tell  a  barren  domestic  animal, 
animals  with  which  we  are  most  familiar.  How  anyone  can  claim  ability 
to  tell  from  the  tieeting  glimpse  that  they  may  have  of  the  deer  that  the 
animal  is  barren,  is  beyond  understanding.  It  is  certain  that  any  law 
allowing  the  killing  of  does  would  be  the  one  big  step  toward  exter- 
niinati<»ii.  New  York  state  recently  had  an  experience  from  which  every 
state  in  the  Union  can  take  lesson.  Under  ex-treme  pressure  the  legisla- 
ture wa.s  iiului'cd  to  change  the  law  so  as  to  allow'  the  killing  of  one 
(leer  of  either  sex.  This  law  remained  in  effect  for  one  .season  and  it  has 
been  shown  that  out  of  an  estimated  number  of  50,000  deer  in  that  state, 
more  than  20,000  were  killed,  and  13,000  of  these  were  does.  Fully  one- 
half  of  the  breeding  stock  wiped  out  in  a  single  season.  Think  what 
would  happen  in  California  during  two  seasons.  It  is  certain  that  no 
quicker  way  could  be  devised  to  exterminate  the  deer  than  by  legalizing 
the  killing  of  doe-s. 

ANGLING    CONDITIONS. 

The  several  dry  seasons  have  raised  havoc  witli  trout  fishing  through- 
out the  State.  In  the  Coast  region  many  streams  that  ordinarily  carry 
a  heavy  flow  of  water  were  reduced  to  a  mere  trickle.  In  others  there 
was  no  flow  at  all.  The  scant  rainfall  has  also  made  it  exceedingly 
difficult  to  obtain  the  usual  number  of  eggs.  This  has  greatly  reduced 
the  output  of  our  hatcheries.  With  the  return  to  normal  rainfall  it  will 
be  necessary  for  the  hatchery  department  to  work  overtime  in  order 


92 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 


i 


Fig.  22.  Mr.  Jay  Bruce,  state  lion  hunter,  and  his  dogs,  Ely  and  Ranger,  with  a 
male  mountain  lion  killed  six  miles  east  of  Zaca  Lal^e,  San  Rafael  Mountains,  Santa 
Barbara  County,  January,   1920.     Photograph  by  Wm.  A.  Magee. 


i 


REPORT   OP   THE   PISH   AND   GAME    COMMISSION.  93 

to  make  up  the  loss.  The  public  can  rest  assured  that  every  effort  will 
be  made  to  bring  back  the  streams  to  normal  conditions. 

On  account  of  the  greater  niiinl)cr  of  fisliermen  it  will  be  necessary  to 
shorten  the  open  season  on  trout  so  that  the  fry  will  have  a  better 
chance  to  develop.  Tlie  season  at  present,  'when  tlie  great  tnutibcr  of 
fishermen  is  considered,  is  entirely  too  long.  The  young  fisli  that  are 
planted  from  year  to  year  are  caught  out  almost  as  fast  as  tliey  are  put 
in.  Under  such  conditions  it  is  impossible  to  build  up  a  stream.  The 
only  remedy  is  to  shorten  the  season  so  that  the  j'oung  fish  will  have 
some  chance  to  get  by  the  first  season  at  least. 

]\rany  years  ago  black  l)ass  were  hi-ought  from  the  East  by  the  Com- 
mission and  planted  in  various  parts  of  the  State.  Nearly  30  years  ago 
one  o£  these  plants  was  inad(>  in  Clear  Lake,  in  Tjakc;  County.  Bass 
have  increased  so  that  we  now  have  good  fishing  practically  throughout 
the  State.  Nowhere,  however,  is  fishing  l)etter  than  in  Clear  Lake.  As 
yet  it  is  not  commonly  known  to  tlic  fishing  fraternity  that  fish  weigh- 
ing nearly  ten  pounds  are  frequently  taken.  Baas  fishing  in  Clear  Lake 
is  better  in  the  spring  and  early  fall  tlian  at  otlier  seasons  of  the  year 
wh(Mi  the  fish  are  in  deeper  water. 

Dui'ing  the  past  two  years  trappers  of  fur-bearing  animals  have 
secured  excellent  prices  for  their  furs.  The  good  prices  have  stimulated 
trapping  so  that  many  more  trappers  have  been  working.  This  heavy 
trapping  has  of  course  reduced  the  number  of  fur-bearing  aniiii;il-;  and 
it  is  more  essential  than  ever  that  those  that  are  left  be  protected  at  the 
season  of  the  year  when  the  fur  is  of  small  value.  A  statement  made  in 
Bulletin  No.  1165  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  is 
very  pertinent : 

"American  trappers  receive  yearly  in  the  aggregate  many  millions 
of  dollars  for  their  fur  harvest  whicli  up  to  the  moment  they  set  out  to 
gather  it.  does  not  cost  them  a  single  effort.  Recently,  the  supply  of 
peltries  has  been  decreasing  at  an  alarming  rate.  Raw-fur  buyers 
representing  all  parts  of  the  country  place  the  decrease  at  from  25  to 
50  per  cent  during  the  last  10  years.  There  are  no  longer  any  virgin 
trapping  grounds.  Even  in  Alaska  the  two  most  important  fur-bearing 
animals,  the  beaver  and  the  marten,  have  become  so  nearly  exterminated 
that  they  are  now  being  protected  by  a  closed  period. 

"Laws  protecting  fur-bearing  animals  are  dasigned  to  keep  a  steady 
flow  of  peltries  coming  to  market  year  after  year,  thereby  bringing 
trappers  a  reliable  income  and  giving  regular  employment  to  thousands 
of  people  engaged  in  dressing  skins,  manufacturing  garments,  and  dis- 
triimting  them  through  tlic  various  avenues  of  trade. 

"A  general  protest  comes  from  raw-fur  buj'crs  against  traffic  in  un- 
prime  skins.  The  losses  caused  by  killing  fur  animals  when  their  pelts 
are  not  prime  are  enormous.  An  educational  campaign  is  greatly 
needed  to  prevent  this  waste  and  to  perpetuate  our  fur-producing  re- 
sources." 


94  REPORT    OF    THE   FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 

It  is  commonly  believed  by  hunters  and  others  that  the  fur-bearing 
animals  feed  primarily  upon  game  and  that  these  animals  are  re- 
sponsible for  the  scarcity  of  game.  Such,  however,  is  not  the  case. 
Years  ago,  when  game  was  more  abundant  than  today,  all  fur  bearers 
were  also  more  abundant.  'The  quail  and  other  game  knew  how  to  hide 
their  nests  and  to  protect  their  young  and  themselves  from  those  ani- 
mals with  which  they  were  familiar.  As  soon  as  the  human  equation 
came  in,  then  the  game  began  to  lose  out.  At  first  the  muzzle  loading 
gun  was  used,  then  as  game  became  scarcer  and  more  difficult  to  secure, 
the  breech-loading  gun,  and  at  present  the  automatic,  first  with  five 
shells  and  now  in  the  duck  regions  with  nine.  Why  not  put  the  blame 
for  the  scarcity  of  game  where  it  belongs  and  not  hold  the  fur-bearing 
animals  responsible!  The  natural  food  of  the  fur  animals  consists  of 
small  rodents,  rats,  mice,  gophers,  ground  squirrels,  etc.  Of  these  we 
have  more  than  an  abundance  in  California.  Of  native  species  and  sub- 
speei&s  there  are  7  moles,  17  shrews,  73  mice,  39  rats,  16  ground 
squirrels,  19  gophers,  besides  the  common  domesticated  rats  and  mice, 
a  total  of  175  species.  Mice  and  rats  are  most  prolific  breeders.  Seaton, 
in  "Life  History  of  Northern  Animals",  in  referring  to  the  breeding 
capacity  of  the  meadow  mice,  says : 

' '  To  breed  like  rabbits  is  an  old  measure  of  fecundity,  but  those  who 
established  the  standard  were  not  fully  acquainted  with  the  IMicro- 
tinae.  These  mice  can  marry,  multii)ly  and  raise  to  independent  age  a 
whole  family  before  the  rabbits  get  much  beyond  the  period  of  gestation. 
They  begin  in  the  early  spring  or  even  late  w^inter,  and  seldom  stop 
before  snowfall.  Meanwhile  the  young  of  the  first  breeds  are  at  work  in 
assisting  the  noble  work  of  multiplying  the  race,  supplying  further 
toilers  for  the  task  of  converting  a  world  of  vegetable  matter  into  a 
world  of  sublimate  flesh  and  blood,  for  the  service  and  subsistence  of 
the  vast  tribe  of  mou>:e-parasites  known  as  birds  and  beasts  of  prey 
*  *  *  "An  animal  which  multiplies  itself  by  six  every  six  weeks 
would  in  six  years  possess  the  earth  and  more  than  fill  its  possession  if 
something  were  not  done  about  it.  The  voles  (meadow  mice)  are  very 
near  such  rate  of  increase.  Fortunately  there  are  numberless  able  re- 
ducers of  the  vole  population  eager  to  do  their  very  excellent  best  but 
these  do  not  any  more  than  strike  a  balance.  If  they  relax  their  efforts 
or  fail  in  the  least,  the  mouse  millions  break  forth  in  devastating 
hordes." 

The  fact  that  destructive  rodents  are  held  in  control  by  the  fur  bear- 
ers should  not  ])e  lost  sight  of,  as  without  doubt  if  mice  and  other 
rodents  should  be  allowed  to  multiply  without  check,  California  as  an 
agricultural  and  horticultural  state  would  be  a  thing  of  the  past. 
Respectfully  .submitted. 

(Signed)     J.  S.  Hunter, 
Assistant  Executive  Officer. 


REPORT    OF    THE    IMSIf    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 


95 


REPORT  OF  THE  SACRAMENTO  DIS  I'RICT. 

TJie  Honorable  Board  of  I'^ish  (iiul  dame  Commissioners  of  the  State 
of  California. 

SiKS:  We  siihiiiit  herewith  ;i  lirief  feport  of  Ihc  \V()fl<  imd  ;i('('Oiiii>lish- 
iiients  of  the  Northern  or  Saerjuiieiito  Distriet  whicli  has  supervision 
over  a  land  area  of  anproxiinate].\-  :5!),1()7  so.iiare  miles,  or  only  i;}78 
s(|uare  miles  less  than  the  area  of  the  combined  states  of  Massachusetts, 
Delaware,  New  Jersey.  Vermont  and  Maine.  Fifteen  of  the  state's 
deputies  work  out  dl'  this  office. 

As  much  of  the  I)est  shooting  jjrounds  for  waterfowl  ;nid  the  i)est 
(leer  counti'\'  is  found  williiii  this  district,  tlir  cii  rdrccinciit  of  l;iw 
occupies  an  iiii|M)i1;int  place  in  oui-  duties. 

MARKET  HUNTING  STOPPED, 
^larket  hunting  in  the  Sacramento  Valley  has  been  reduced  to  a 
mininiuiii.  No  doubt  there  is  some  traffic  in  ducks  and  other  game,  and 
while  there  is  game,  always  will  be  more  or  less.  Several  convictions  in 
the  Federal  Court  for  violations  of  the  INIigratory  Bird  Treaty  Act  broke 
the  back  of  the  "Colusa  ground  sluicers"  with  their  double  automatics. 
These  guns  carry  ten  loads  that  can  be  shot  in  six  seconds.     It  is  the 


l-iu.    :;;;.      Jjuiks    CUU    in    ;iU)    conlisLittL'd    Irmn    two   maikot    luiiUir.s   near    i 'oliisa, 
Colusa  County,  in  1919.      Market  hunting  in  California  is  now  u  thing  of  the  past. 

7-7857 


96  REPORT    OF    THE    PISH    AXD    GAME    COMMISSION. 

custom  for  three  or  four  of  these  hunters  to  sneak  along  on  the  ground 
in  approaehing  ducks  and  geese  and  tln'ii  turn  loose  the  bombardment. 

The  difficulty  of  detecting  sale  transactions  is  evidenced  by  the  fol- 
lowing facts :  One  of  the  most  notorious  hunters  maintained  a  joint  in 
Colusa  where  ducks  were  dispensed  after  the  password  had  been  given. 
So  notorious  had  the  i)lace  become  for  the  distribution  of  ducks  that 
traveling  men  had  no  difficult\'  in  purchasing  them  at  any  time.  It 
was  the  custom  of  these  men  to  keep  a  supply  of  ducks  on  hand  in 
order  that  they  might  guarantee  the  limit  to  so-called  city  "sportsmen" 
Avlioiii  these  hunters  took  out  at  so  much  per  day.  The  surplus  ducks 
were  shipped  to  San  Francisco  and  Sacramento  under  fictitious  names 
to  be  distributed  by  agents. 

The  proprietor  of  tliis  joint,  witli  three  othei-  well-known  market 
hunters,  was  detected  on  October  15,  1918,  the  day  previous  to  the  open- 
ing of  the  season,  with  226  ducks  and  one  snipe  in  his  possession. 
Information  was  tiled  against  these  four  defendants,  Charles  Guernsey, 
J.  T.  Maley,  Frank  Chambers,  and  Joe  P.  Meyers.  They  were  indicted 
by  the  Federal  Grand  Jury  and  were  tried  by  jury  on  February  4,  1919, 
at  Sacramento,  Judge  Van  Fleet  presiding.  The  jury  returned  a  verdict 
of  guilty  in  eleven  minutes,  and  the  defendants  were  sentenced  to  pay 
$100  each  or  in  default  serve  60  days  in  jail. 

Much  credit  is  due  state  and  federal  wardens  Carpenter  and  Ludlum, 
Deputy  United  States  Game  Warden  E.  S.  Cattron  and  Assistant 
United  States  Attorney  Johnson  for  the  manner  in  which  the  ease  was 
handled.  As  this  was  the  first  case  in  California  under  the  ^Migratory 
Bird  Treaty  Act,  Judge  Van  Fleet  did  not  impose  a  maximum  fine,  ])ut 
warned  all  future  offenders  to  beware. 

The  conviction  of  these  men  had  a  very  beneficial  effect.  Should  the 
legislature  put  the  ban  on  the  possession  of  this  murderous  weapon  it 
will  eradicate  this  class  of  market  hunter,  who  is  the  twin  of  the  "bull 
hunter"  and  will  not  take  a  sporting  cliancc  with  other  weapons. 

DUCKS  VERSUS  RICE. 

The  difficult  problem  confronting,  the  Fisii  and  Game  Commission 
regarding  the  alleged  necessity  of  killing  ducks  in  the  rice  fields,  where 
it  was  claimed  they  were  destroying  rice,  is  about  solved.  United  States 
Biological  Survey  has  now  assumed  control  and  custody  of  the  migra- 
tory waterfowl,  and  in  order  to  cooperate  with  the  rice  growers  in 
affording  protection  to  their  crops  has  appointed  a  resident  United 
States  Game  Warden,  Mr.  C.  F.  Ileuser.  Stationed  at  Sacramento,  Mr._ 
Heuser  is  in  a  position  to  investigate  all  complaints.  When  damage  by 
ducks  is  found  efforts  are  made  to  frighten  them  from  the  fields  by 
means  of  the  automatic  flash  gun  or  lantern,  the  use  of  bombs,  and  black 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH    AND    GAME   COMMISSION.  97 

powder  without  shot.  All  of  these  protective  methods  are  proving  very 
satisfactory  if  used  intelliueiitly  and  with  the  riill  jyiirposc  of  obtain- 
ing relief.  Because  of  tlie  success  attained  the  warden  is  receiving  the 
cooiieratioii  dl'  many  i-iic  growers  in  protecting  both  the  rice  and  the 
waterfowl  until  tlic  open  sea.sou  e.stablistied  by  the  government. 

California  could  most  effectively  I'id  herself  of  the  rice  antl  duck 
proldem  l)y  asking  the  I'nited  States  l)ei)artment  of  Agriculture,  and 
the  California  State  Legislature  to  tix  an  open  season  to  conform  with 
both  Oregon  and  Nevada,  where  the  season  is  October  1  to  January  15. 
Tills  would  permit  the  rice  growers  to  h-gally  protect  their  crops  where 
it  might  l)e  found  lu'cessary.  It  would  also  allnw  the  residents  of  the 
extreme  Northern  California  counties  to  kill  some  waterfowl  before 
these  birds  leave  on  tlieii-  southei'u  migrations.  These  residents  claim, 
and  .justly  so,  that  they  are  discriminated  against,  as  by  the  tinu^  of  our 
existing  open  s(\Tson  the  Avatorfowl  have  nearly  all  left  for  the  lower 
valleys. 

RIVER    PATROL. 

The  launch  patrol  on  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  rivers  and 
tributaries  is  most  efficient.  With  the  addition  of  the  fast  cruiser 
''Rainbow,"  whose  speed  is  twenty-six  miles  an  hour,  the  patrol  is  able 
to  more  than  double  its  cruising  radius.  The  phenomenal  run  of  striped 
I'ass  in  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  rivers  during  the  closed 
season  for  nets  demonstrated  that  few,  if  any,  nets  have  been  used  dur- 
ing the  closed  season. 

STATE    FAIR    EXHIBIT. 

The  Fish  and  Game  Commission's  exhibit  at  the  State  Fair  at  Sacra- 
mento, August  30  to  September  9,  1919,  was  the  most  pretentious  yet 
attempted  and  proved  to  be  the  biggest  attraction  at  the  fair.  A  capable 
engineer  was  retained  to  draw  the  plans  and  ^Ir.  AVm.  F.  Dabelstein,  an 
artist  of  San  Francisco,  executed  them.  The  whole  north  end  of  the 
new  Agricultural  Building  was  given  over  to  the  exhibit.  The  main 
feature  of  the  exhibit  was  a  cyclorama  of  the  Sierra  with  IMounts 
Shasta,  Lassen  and  AVhitney  looming  uj)  in  the  background  and  in  the 
fore<'round  the  south  end  of  Lake  Taliue  at  one  end  and  a  miniature  of 
the  ]\rount  Whitney  Hatchery  at  the  other.  Several  miniature  water- 
falls tumbled  down  the  rocks  into  an  artificial  lake  filled  with  trout. 
The  whole  scene  was  made  still  more  attractive  by  a  system  of  lighting 
which  successively  showed  the  gray  light  of  dawn,  the  rosy  tints  of 
sunrise  and  the  light  of  full  day. 

Arranged  in  front  of  the  panorama  were  four  large  aquaria.  Two  of 
them  showed  common  introduced  fish  such  as  black  and  .striped  ba.ss, 
Iduegilled  sunfish.  crappie  and  catfish,  a  third  showed  different  varieties 


98  REPORT    OF   THE    FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 

of  trout  and  a  fourth  was  filled  with  the  famous  golden  trout  of  the 
]\[ount  Whitney  reuion.  Great  interest  was  shown  in  the  golden  trout, 
aiul  no  wonder,  for  their  bright  eoloi-s  would  attract  anj'one.  The  hardi- 
ness of  this  variety  of  trout  was  evideneetl  1)\-  their  vigorous  good  health 
while  in  the  aiiuarium.  Not  a  fish  was  lost  in  transit,  nor  did  one  die 
dui'ing  the  ten  days  duration  of  the  fair. 

The  pubiieations  of  the  Commission  were  on  display  and  wild  life 
films  were  shown  in  the  motion  picture  theater  twice  daily. 

The  exhibit  was  remodeled  and  improved  for  the  lt)2()  fair.  The 
observation  platform  was  moved  farther  away,  acblitional  foothills  were 
added  and  a  miniature  electric  train,  with  bridges  and  tunnels,  was  in- 
stalled and  better  lighting  efifects  supplied.  Of  particular  interest  this 
year  were  the  added  cloud  effects.  While  changing  colors  which  lighted 
the  mountains  showed  the  change  from  day  to  night,  clouds  swept 
across  the  sky  and  later  the  stars  appeared.  This  was  followed  by  the 
rosy  tints  of  morning. 

Visitors  to  the  fair  unhesitatingly  stated  that  this  exhibit  was  not 
only  the  finest  exhibit  on  the  fair  grounds  but  the  finest  ever  shown  in 
the  "West,  even  exceeding  any  of  those  shown  at  the  Panama-Pacific 
Exposition. 

As  in  previous  years  there  was  a  splendid  aquarium  display  of  food 
and  game  fishes,  including  a  splendid  exhibit  of  introduced  fishes  of 
valley  streams  and  the  famous  golden  trout. 

TAHOE  FREE  CAMP  GROUND. 

The  Legi-^lature  at  its  last  session  set  aside  the  old  hatchery  grounds 
at  Taboe  City,  which  were  to  be  abandoned  for  a  better  site,  as  a 
])ublic  camp  for  vacationists.  Under  the  direction  of  the  Fish  and 
Game  Commission  the  State  Engineering  Department  installed  a  water 
supply,  sewer  system  and  other  sanitary  conveniences.  The  camp  was 
opened  to  the  public  on  July  4,  1919,  with  Mr.  Arnold  D.  Patterson 
as  superintendent.  On  the  first  day  over  a  liundi'cd  campers  were  cared 
for.  The  camp  remained  open  until  September  5.  During  the  season 
1289  persons  registered,  but  tliis  nuinl)i'i'  docs  not:  represent  the  total 
nund)er  accommodated. 

In  the  summer  of  1920  the  attendance  was  not  as  large  as  the  pre- 
vious season,  considering  the  length  of  time  the  camp  was  open,  which 
was  no  doubt  due  to  the  shortage  of  gasoline. 

Among  the  added  attractions  this  season  wa,s  a  profusion  of  beautiful 
flowers  bordering  the  drive  ami  walks.  Camp  closets,  or  cupboards, 
were  also  installed  in  each  camping  spot,  where  campers  could  keep 
their  supplies. 

There  were  visitors  from  every  state  in  the  United  States,  and  every 
countv  in  California.     Every  one  of  the  1396  guests  voted  that  it  was 


REPORT    OF   THE   FISH    AND   GAME    COMMISSION.  D!) 

tlu'  best  ctiiiippi'd  ami  iiiaiiau'i'd  I'rrc  ramp  in  the  state  and  many  It'ttfi's 
of  oommciidation  of  tlic  inaiiasenient  have  beon  recoivcd.  Tlio  expenses 
of  operation  ol'  the  ramp  are  maintained  liv  tlii'  Imnting  and  an<,din<; 
iieense  fnnd. 

SUMMARY     OF     GAME     CONDITIONS. 
Game   Fishes. 

Tlie  drouulit  lias  had  a  most  del  fimrntal  elTnt  (ui  ti'ame  fishes,  espe- 
cially tKtnt.  -Many  of  the  mountain  streams  went  entirely  dry  in  early 
.Inly  and  .Vuo'iist,  stn^ams  that  in  the  histoi'y  ol'  tin'  state  were  nevei- 
known  to  he  absolutely  dry.  We  believe  the  open  season  is  entii'ely  too 
long.  If  the  present  ileniand  upon  our  streams  continnes  to  e.xpand  and 
no  pi-ovision  is  made  to  meet  that  demand  either  by  redueiti.f;  the  length 
of  the  oi)en  season  oi-  the  baii'  linut,  it  will  be  but  a  few  years  until  our 
smaller  streams  are  entirely  depleted  e-xeept  by  the  small  fry  annually 
l)lanted.  A  large  amount  of  fish  reclamation  will  he  necessary  this  fall, 
both  ill  the  valley  and  mountains. 

The  tishes  introduced  by  our  Comnnssion  from  other  states,  siieli  as 
striped  and  blacU  bass,  cr.ippie  and  suntishes,  are  now  widely  dis- 
tributed and  furnish  an  abundance  of  sport  and  food  for  the  popula- 
tion of  the  valleys  and  interior.  The  striped  bass  have  penetrated  into 
the  upper  Sacramento  and  San  Joaciuin  rivers  and  their  tributaries, 
and  in  their  seasonal  runs  furnish  sport  and  food  for  many  anglers  on 
week-end  outings,  who  otherwise  cannot  take  annual  vacations  else- 
V.  here. 

Deer. 

Every  county  in  the  district  contains  deer  in  some  luunljers.  i\lany 
are  killed  within  a  few  miles  of  the  Capital  City.  There  has  been  a  most 
jdienomenal  increase  in  the  last  years  of  this  spleiiditl  game  animal. 
The  Hayfork  \'alley  lookout  from  his  ranger  station  counted  170  deer 
on  .lul\-  ;)1.  The  Ually  Mountain  lookont  reported  having  counted  1170 
(U'i'y  diiriuL;-  the  month  of  .Jidy.  The  relentless  war  waged  by  oui-  Com- 
mission on  the  mountain  lion,  and  th(>  increase  in  the  warden  service, 
which  has  reduced  the  winter  killing,  is  no  doubt  pai'tly  responsible  for 
this  wonderful  increase.  Especially  is  this  true  in  connection  with  the 
Lava  P>ed  cou7itry  of  ^Fcdoc  County.  wIkm-c  mule  deer  abound. 

Mountain   Quail. 

Mountain  (|nail  lia\('  al>o  slmwu  a  wonderful  increase  since  our  last 
repoi't.  probably  due  to  the  vei'y  liuuteil  fall  of  snow  in  the  last  few 
years  in  the  areas  in  which  these  birds  winter,  and  the  vigilance  of  the 
district  wardens.  In  1915  and  1916,  this  species  was  all  but  destroyed 
bv  freezing  and  starvation  in  the  counties  of  Shasta.  Tehama,  La.s.sen, 


100  REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND   GAME   COMMISSION. 

Modoc  and  I'liimas.    Tlie  remnant  whieli  survived  were  fed  by  our  war- 
dens.   Happily  tliey  have  now  increased  in  their  former  numbers. 

Valley  Quail. 

L'erlaiuation  is  diminishing  the  area  where  quail  find  food  and  shelter 
and  consequently  they  are  perhaps  decreasing,  except  in  lor-alities  where 
they  are  protected  at  all  times  by  the  vineyardist  or  orehardist,  or  where 
they  are  not  subjected  to  intensive  hunting.  However,  this  grand  bird 
is  reported  by  our  district  wardens  as  being  fairly  numerous. 

Doves. 

After  the  United  States  Dei)ai'tnu'iit  of  Agriculture  assumed  control 
of  migratory  birds  and  established  an  open  season  for  shooting  doves 
commencing  September  1,  dove  shooters  predicted  it  would  practically 
bar  them  from  shooting  this  bird.  However,  this  has  not  proven  true. 
Doves  were  noticeably  plentiful  in  the  Northern  District  on  Sep- 
tember 1.  IMany  limit  bags  were  made  on  fully  grown,  strong  flying 
birds.  If  this  season  prevails  for  a  few  years,  allowing  doves  to  rear 
their  full  quota  of  young,  they  will  be  as  abundant  in  September  and 
October  as  they  are  in  July  and  August. 

Grouse,   Sage   hens. 

These  birds  likewdse  have  benefitted  by  the  minimum  of  snowfall  for 
the  last  few  years,  and  are  reported  fairly  numerous  in  some  districts. 
In  Lassen  and  Modoc  Counties,  sage  hens  are  notably  abundant.  It  is 
to  be  regretted  that  the  California  law  on  these  birds  does  not  conform 
with  the  Oregon  and  Nevada  laws,  which  place  the  open  season  from 
July  15  to  August  15.  By  this  date  the  birds  become  so  strong  with 
sage,  Avhich  renders  them  not  fit  for  table  use,  that  California  residents 
feel  they  are  disr-riminated  against  and  consequently  blame  the  Com- 
mission. 

Ducks,   Geese. 

The  last  three  or  four  years  of  drought  in  California  have  been  of  in- 
estimable benefit  to  wild  waterfowl,  inasnuu-li  as  the  lack  of  water  in 
the  usually  overflowed  areas  of  the  great  San  Joaquin  and  Sacramento 
valleys  has  driven  these  birds  to  the  extreme  southern  portion  of  the 
United  States  and  Mexico,  where  water  conditions  were  more  favorable 
and  where  these  birds  are  immune  from  the  great  army  of  California 
hunters. 

Fur-bearing    Mammals. 

The  business  of  trapping  fur-bearing  mammals  has  grown  by  leaps 
and  bounds  in  this  district.    The  law  protecting  them  until  the  furs  are 


I 


REPORT    OF    THE    FISH    AND    GAME    COJIMISSION. 


101 


I'li:.     '-\.        Al'X     fv''i.iii'l.    :i     tl:ilii"r,    w  i  i  !  i     !i,s    l.iK.'    iM     luis    i.nmlil     In    Tiiiiilx-    l'i.iiiil>-. 

in   February.    19:^0.      These  furs  sold  for  $1T.S.      From  left   to   right  the  furs  are  ring- 
tailed  cat,  raccoon,  fisher,  rac.^;?on,  river  otter,  raccoon,  fislier,  raccoon,  ringtailed  cat. 

at  their  best  is  most  strictly 
oliserved  and  is  vei-y  popu- 
lar with  the  man  wiio  1i-a]).s 
for  profit. 

Tlie  Sacramento  Division 
makes  grateful  acknowl- 
edgment of  the  splendid 
service  rendered  by  officers 
of  the  several  National  For- 
ests in  this  district.  They 
have  capably  and  efficiently 
assisted  (nir  wardens  and 
cooperated  in  enforcing  the 
fish  and  game  laws.  Grate- 
ful acknowledgment  is  also 
made  of  services  of  the  dep- 
uties of  the  Sacramento  Di- 
vision and  of  their  loyalty, 
efficiency  and  hearty  coop- 
eration so  readily  given  to  their  office  and  to  their  fellow  wardens.  No 
hardship  is  avoided,  no  day  or  night  is  too  long,  and  no  dangerous  detail 
is  shirked  in  the  performance  of  duty. 
Respectfully  submitteil. 

(Signed)     Geo.  Neale, 
Assistant  in  Charge. 


Fig.  25.  Fisli  and  Game  Commission  deputy 
on  patrol  work  in  the  mountains.  Game  laws 
are  enforced  in  the  hidden  fastnesses  of  the 
mountains  as  weU  as  in  the  more  populated 
districts.     Photograph  by  Euell  Gray. 


102  REPORT    OF   THE   PISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 

REPORT   OF  THE   LOS   ANGELES   DISTRICT. 

The  Ilonorahlc  Board  of  Fish  and  Game  Commissioners  of  the  State  of 
California. 

Sirs:  "We  are  pleased  to  present  the  following  report  of  Southern 
Division  activities  in  tlie  cause  of  fish  and  game  conservation  during  the 
l>iennial  period  closing  June  80,  1920. 

Our  policy  during  the  last  two  years  has  liccn  one  of  steadily  increas- 
ing and  ever  more  detailed  frankness  witli  oui-  masters,  the  public.  It 
has  hecn  diitatcd  with  particular  reference  to  the  sportsmen  and  com- 
mercial fisheries  interests,  which  jointly  finance  our  work  through  their 
contrihiiliou  of  licenses  and  other  special  forms  of  taxation.  Never  have 
we  lost  sight  of  the  peculiarly  direct  responsibility  devolving  upon  us 
for  a  fre(jueut  and  frank  accounting  to  the  general  public,  as  well  as  to 
these  earlier,  but  no  less  certain,  beneficiaries  of  this  great  trust  that 
has  been  placed  under  our  charge. 

PUBLICITY. 

We  have  consistently  sought  through  the  ever  charitable  medium  of 
our  generous  southern  California  press,  to  advise  the  people,  by 
means  of  a  continuous  and  systematic  newspaper  campaign,  using 
widely  circulated  articles  of  live  news  value,  written  from  the  view- 
point of  those  specially  interested,  and  distributed  with  all  possible  con- 
sideration of  newspaper  ethics.  We  have  sought  to  make  this  service 
timely,  by  seeking  to  diversify  it  among  competing  journals  and  l)y 
investing  it  with  an  individual  flavor,  giving  due  regard  to  style  require- 
ments where  known.  Such  a  course  has  unavoidably  involved  a  very 
considerable  increase  in  the  purely  physical  part  of  the  work;  but  we 
believe  the  general  appreciation  shown  has  more  than  justified  it. 

Today,  we  believe  it  can  truly  l)e  said  that  the  public  of  southern 
California  is  not  only  virtually  unanimously  behind  the  conservation  of 
fish  and  game,  but  also  that  it  has  a  better  working  idea  of  operating 
problems  and  diriiciilties.  and  is  in  closer  sympathy  with  our  efforts 
than  ever  heretofore. 

LAW   ENFORCEMENT. 

In  a  work  llie  success  of  which  nuist  be  measured  by  the  degree  of 
cooperation  attained  on  the  part  of  the  people  who  first  must  be 
awakened  fi'oiii  llieii'  normal  apathetic  view  to  the  realization  of  the 
value  of  (  onservation,  the  importance  of  such  results  is  easier  to  under- 
estimate or  to  ignore  than  to  embody  in  cold  figures.  However,  the 
statistical  proof  is  not  lacking.  It  is  to  be  found  in  the  steadily  increas- 
ing percentage  of  convictions  to  prosecutions,  aiul  in  the  materially 
mounting  average  penalty  per  conviction. 


REPORT    OF    'I'lIK    FISH    AND    CAME    COMMISSION.  103 

Wlu'ii.  from  a  [x'l'ct'iita.uc  ol'  90.8,  tlir  (oiivid  ions  in  one  year  ,iiini|)  1o 
96.4;  and  tlie  avcrajje  fine  ascends  IVoiii  .'ff.S^.o^  to  i{^36.51 ;  with  llio 
number  of  convictions  I'isiii^  i'rom  lo'.t  in  l!»l!)  to  ^'M^  in  1!)2(),  supported 
by  fines  of  $3,252.50  in  l!»l!t  swclliii-;-  in  one  year  to  $4,9()().  there  appears 
considcfahh'  labiiliitcd  food  for  thmiu-ht,  II'  these  fi<;ures  do  not  re- 
flect a  stitfcninj^  of  [)ul>lic  sentiment  in  I'aNor  of  sti-ict  enfoi'cement 
of  the  conservation  laws,  what  then  shall  lie  said  at  the  almost  doubled 
totals  of  days  of  jail  seidence  imposed  last  year  as  compared  with  the 
twelvemonth  pi-eceding:'  The  figures  were  245  days  ajrainst  480  up 
to  June  30.  1920.  fjikewise.  the  total  luimlier  of  [H'oseeiit  ions  increased 
from  120.  ill  IDlD.  to  141.  in  1!I2(),  despite  very  satisfactory  evidence 
that  the  laws  are  l)eing  respected  more  generally  than  ever  before. 

Had  statistics  been  founded  sutficiently  early  to  show  the  increase  in 
popular  cooperation  as  expressed  in  information  written,  telephoned  or 
frivi'U  by  personal  call,  the  flurures  would  undoubtedly  luive  shown  an 
even  more  sensational  gain.  Establishing  the  rule  that  no  such  call 
should  ever  fail  to  receive  the  promptest  and  most  painstaking  atten- 
tion, it  has  become  possible  to  build  up  a  very  considerable  volunteer 
intelligence  service  which  is  steadilv  extending  over  the  country,  and 
proving  of  tlie  very  greatest  value  in  putting  a  practical  point  to  patrol 
work  by  focussing  attention  upon  centers  of  violation.  In  a  territory 
so  comprehensive  as  southern  California,  and  one  whose  fishing  waters 
and  game-fields  are  so  widely  separated,  something  of  this  sort  is  an 
essential  preliminary  to  effective  accomplishment.  With  an  area  larger 
than  many  states,  yet  containing  seldom  more  than  one  regular  ap- 
pointee in  any  one  county,  nevertheless,  the  law-abiding  sportsman 
insists  ur)on  seeing  the  fish  and  game  laws  enforced  far  more  exten- 
sivdy — and  intensively — than  the  orilinances  of  his  own  cit\-  where  a 
hundred  times  as  many  specially  trained  patrolmen  are  inadequate  to 
prevent  nearly  every  law  on  the  statute  books  being  broken  repeatedly 
every  day.  Nevertheless,  there  is  but  one  course  open,  and  that  is  to 
briuu-  up  the  service  to  the  utmost  efficiency  possible  under  the  controll- 
ing conditions.  This  is  being  done,  and  nothing  is  overlooked  that  may 
tend  toward  further  enlisting  that  public  confidence  which  manifests 
itself  most  practically  in  the  form  of  whole-souled  volunteer  coopera- 
tion. 

There  was  a  time  when  deserving  volunteers,  desirous  of  aiding  di- 
rectly the  enforcenieni  of  fish  and  game  conservation  laws,  could  be 
specially  deputized:  but  all  such  unsalaried  help  has  now  become  im- 
possible owing  to  the  Employers'  Liability  acts  which  are  construed 
as  placing  a  fair  charge  against  the  conservation  funds  for  any  injury 
that  might  befall  even  an  unsalaried  officer,  if  operating  luider  authority 
conferred  by  this  Commission.  Since  no  man  can  waive  the  rights  of 
his  heirs  in  liim.  the  numerous  applii-ants  for  special  l)adges  have  been 


104  REPORT    OF    THE    FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 

enlisted,  so  fai-  as  possible,  as  iiifoi'iiiaiits  and  L-ooperators  in  such  otlier 
lines  as  were  possible,  although  a  considerable  part  cannot  understand 
just  why  the  state  cannot  take  a  sport iii<,f  chance  upon  their  services 
toward  the  conservation  of  sport. 

Likewise,  were  it  possible  to  keep  an  accurate  record  of  requests  for 
information  coming  along  the  various  avenues  of  incpiiry — mails,  tele- 
phones, calls  at  the  office — the  percentage  of  increase  would  be  found 
to  liave  approximately  doubled  each  year.  While  in  great  measure  such 
increases  may  be  due  to  the  establishment  of  a  comprehensive  and  accu- 
rate "Sportsman's  Information  Bureau''  as  an  ad.junct  of  its  general 
work,  the  explanation  is  in  part  found  in  the  steady  widening  out  of 
the  Fish  and  Game  Commission's  activities;  and  to  a  natural  following 
up  of  the  very  great  annual  increases  in  the  numbers  of  hunters  and 
anglers  licensed. 

LICENSE  SALES. 
Most  public  service  bodies  are  charged  with  the  expenditure  of 
moneys  turned  over  to  them  from  the  general  tax  funds  on  a  pre- 
arranged basis  which  admits  of  budgeting  expenditures,  and  arranging 
outlays  in  advance.  The  Fish  and  Game  Commission  happens  to  be 
numbered  among  those  which  must  support  their  own  efforts  by  a  direct 
taxation  of  the  more  immediately  benefited  class;  and  for  many  years 
past,  conservation  has  in  no  sense  been  a  charge  upon  the  general  tax 
funds  of  the  state.  Surely,  in  a  state  whose  phenomenal  growth  stands 
as  a  monument  to  the  pulling  power  of  her  manifold  attractions,  no 
extended  elaboration  of  the  argument  is  necessary ;  and  it  is  needless, 
for  the  sportsmen  of  southern  California  have  most  nobly  proved,  not 
only  that  they  can,  but  that  they  most  heartily  will,  pay  the  costs  of 
propagating  and  protecting  fish  and  game.  Nor  do  they  ask  more  than 
that  their  moneys  shall  be  expended  as  intelligently  and  as  effectively 
as  a  board  of  business  men,  backed  by  the  ablest  experts  in  their  several 
lines  obtainable,  shall  direct.  "With  the  collection  of  those  moneys,  the 
average  sportsman  has  little  concern ;  but  since  the  financing  of  con- 
servation work  is  its  very  foundation,  the  Fish  and  Game  Commission 
must  needs  give  the  utmost  consideration  to  increasing  its  revenues  by 
greater  placing  of  licenses,  sin;  e  each  brings  in  the  single  dollar  income 
that  was  established  when  a  dollar  did  double  duty  as  compared  with 
today. 

■  To  the  end  that  the  public  might  more  easily  procure  licenses,  and 
revenues  be  increased  by  a  larger  volume  of  sales.  Commissioner  M.  J. 
Connell,  who  has  charge  of  this  Southern  Division,  recommended,  and 
after  considerable  effort,  secured  a  law  which  permits  the  Commission 
to  issue — not  to  sell — any  number  of  licenses  to  any  selected  agent,  to 
exact  a  bond,  or  cash-deposit  equal  in  value  to  the  amount  of  the  licenses 


I 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH    AND    CAME    COMMISSION.  105 

SO  i.«suecl,  and  to  allow  a<ji:t'iits  so  s('llin<j:  lie-enscs,  llic  Iv'^ai  coiuinis-ion 
of  ten  per  cent. 

In  conformity  with  this  law,  iiimiiiiri-alih'  sudi  ai^eneies  have  been 
created,  sport inf^-jrocds  stores,  hardware  and  uciu't-al  merchandise 
houses  and  post  otfices  amonu'  others.  In  addition  to  this  already  com- 
pnhensive  (Iisti'iliu1i(.n.  the  Aiitoinoliilc  (Mnh  of  Soutlirfn  ('alifornia 
has  now  placed  onr  licenses  on  sale  to  its  50, ()()()  members  throuj^di  its 
main  oftiee  in  Los  Anuvle.s,  and  its  twenty  hi-anehes  in  all  the  leading 
cities  of  southern  ( 'aliforiua.  The  Automobile  club  not  oidy  has  co- 
operated most  ch(>erfully  in  evei-y  way  through  dissennnation  of  infor- 
uuition  tlirough  the  wide  and  highly  specialized  s|)orting  circulation 
(d"  its  ''Touring-  Topics"  magazine;  l)ut  has  with  most  commendable 
publii-  spirit,  waived  its  lawful  conuuission  of  ten  per  cent  on  the  large 
volume  of  licenses  sold,  thereby  establishing  a  laudable  precedent. 

Today,  the  huiding  and  angling  licenses  are  so  easily  obtainable  in 
southern  California  that  nobody  has  the  least  excuse  to  be  without. 
The  rc(iuirements  of  the  law  are  so  universally  known,  and  so  conven- 
iently complied  with  that  convictions  for  lack  of  licenses  are  now  negli- 
gible. 

It  is  particularly  gratifying  that  the  gain  in  our  revenues  through 
thus  ( onveniencing  the  public,  has  been  attained  without  the  loss  of  a 
dollar,  or  any  dereliction  in  accounting,  notwithstanding  the  broadcast 
nature  of  the  distribution.  The  system  is  now  so  organized  that  a  loss 
is  viitually  impos-ible,  the  Fish  and  Game  Commission  being  entirely 
safe-guarded  in  advance,  placing  the  entire  responsibility  right  where 
it  belongs — namely,  upon  those  who  are  being  paid  ten  per  cent  for 
their  services  to  tlie  state.  Nor  can  the  very  large  number  of  firms 
thus  financially  interested,  be  overlooked  as  a  contributing  factor  in 
stinudating  the  sale  of  sporting  licenses.  These  merchants  are  not  over- 
paid for  their  time  and  trouble;  but  their  profit  comes  in  the  very  con- 
siderable advertising  value  incidental  to  the  i.ssuanee  of  licenses,  which 
bring  people  into  their-  places  of  business  to  leave  many  a  dollar  in  trade 
that  otherwise  would  go  elsewdiere.  Today,  a  more  loyal  or  conscien- 
tious organization  than  these  sales  agents  would  be  difficult  to  discover. 

The  story  of  conservation  in  southern  California  reads  like  a 
ronuince ;  nor  has  the  last  biennial  period  proved  its  least  iidere>;ting 
chapter.     Rather,  the  reverse  is  true. 

Confronted  by  a  combination  of  conditions  seemingly  prohibitive  fif- 
teen years  ago — with  a  population  increasing  beyond  any  known  pre- 
cedent and  agriculture  ever  reaching  out  for  all  arable  lands,  as  inten- 
sive nuichine  farnnng  nui'thods  increased  human  capacity  for  cultivation 
— there  seemed  but  a  dismal  future  for  the  gentleman's  field  sports  of 
angling  and  shooting. 


106  REPORT    OF    THE    PISIT    AXO    GAME    COMMISSION. 

Handicapped  by  a  scant\-  Iciiislative  ai)|)r()i)riatioii  that  \va.s  hope- 
lessly inadequate,  no  one  (l;ii-i(l  liDpc  to  ever  tinanee  conservation  work 
upon  a  scale  adequate  to  hamUc  the  numiiitude  of  the  job.  that  even 
then  had  made  itself  manifest  to  tliose  wiiose  lives  are  devoted  to  tliis 
public  .'^ervice. 

The  hunting  license  was  then  a  new,  untried  thin<>';  its  po,s.sibilities 
problematical,  so  much  so  that  Senator  11.  M.  Willi.s,  himself  a  southern 
Californian.  .'■ensing  something  of  the  local  need  proposed  and  indeed 
(]id,  i'oi"  a  time,  succeed  in  limiting  the  use  of  revenues  thereunder  aris- 
ing to  the  introduction  and  propagation  of  alien  species  of  game.  From 
that  early  day  to  this,  when  conservation  no  longer  asks  support  from 
the  general  public,  is  indeed  a  far  cry.  But  now  that  the  sportsmen 
have,  througli  an  enlightened  popular  sentiment,  come  to  consider  their 
hunting  and  angling  licence  investments  as  virtually  a  contribution  to 
the  general  good  of  game  and  fish,  there  has  been  a  steady  increase  year 
by  year,  not  oidy  from  immigration,  but  internally  as  well. 

GAME  CONDITIONS. 

Some  years  after  the  establishment  of  the  hunting  license  the  Fish 
and  Game  Commission  concluded,  somewhat  hastily,  tliat  propagation 
of  game  birds  and  introduction  of  alien  species  did  not  pay.  It  was 
then  felt  that  careful  conservation  of  indigenous  species  was  more  pro- 
ductive tlinn  experimenting  with  exotics.  Whether  that  conclusion  was 
entirely  sound  has  for  some  time  appeared  debatable.  Increasing  cul- 
tivation involved  changing  conditions  for  game,  development  of  water, 
and  different  croijs.  Hut  of  all  developments  questioning  that  conclu- 
sion, nothing  could  have  a  more  unsettling  ett'ect  than  the  phenomenal 
success  attendant  upon  the  artificial  propagation  and  introduction  of 
Chinese  pheasants  in  the  Owens  Valley  of  Inyo  County.  This  alone  is 
unquestionably  worth  every  penny  this  state  ever  spent  upon  the  prop- 
agation of  game;  To  such  extended  range  and  in  such  considerable 
numbers  have  these  traditional  game  birds  of  royalty  increased  that  a 
short  open  season  with  low  bag  limits  is  only  a  matter  of  time,  meaning 
thus  the  actual  addition  of  these  magnificent  fowl  to  the  alread.v  lone; 
list  of  California's  game.  Today,  a  hundred  of  them  may  be  seen  in 
driving  through  the  extent  of  their  range  in  Owens  Valley  from  the  salt 
lake  to  the  foot  of  Long  Valley,  delighting  the  motor  tourist  with  their 
gorgeous  display  of  coloring  as  they  strut  about  the  stubble  fields 
and  run  oi-  fly  across  the  road,  quite  tame,  usually  in  pairs,  but  often 
in  considerable  family  parties. 

At  present,  a  pbin  made  eight  years  ago  by  Commissioner  Connell 
for  sending  a  well  equipped  expedition  into  southern  and  southeast- 
ern Mexico  in  quest  of  the  Grayson  liob-wbite  is  held  in  abeyance  await- 


REPORT    OF   THE    PISII    AND    OAMK    COMMISSION.  10? 

iii<,'  sufficient  settlement  nl'  intri'iuil  1  [■mililcs  in  that  fevolution-rent 
republic'.  It  is  jn-oposed  to  iiiakc  the  lin.il  an-anyenients  as  soon  as 
such  ofdci-  is  i-fstiifcd  tliat  siicli  a  mission  will  ridt  iinpcfil  those  dch'- 
fi'ated  to  so  important  a  scf\irc.  In  the  meantime,  investigation  of  the 
living  conditions  and  hal)its  of  these  (piail  has  pi-ogressed  far  eiifjU'^h  to 
give  every  reasonahh'  assur'anc*'  that  they  are  desicahle  tVom  the  spofts- 
man's  point  of  view,  as  well  as  pi'oinising  to  succei'd  in  southern  ('ali- 
fornia  becatise  of  the  siiidhirity  in  eliniatic  conditions  with  their 
present  hal)itat.  No  less  an  autliority  tliaii  Ivlward  \V.  Xel-on,  ('hi(d"  of 
the  Biological  Survey,  has  advised  the  CalifVu-nia  l^'isli  and  <lame  Com- 
mission to  that  effect,  whicli  brings  probably  the  abh'st  judgmeid  in 
the  world  to  this  (piest  ion. 

Among  the  problems  of  those  who  seek  to  protect  and  increase  game, 
in  sonthern  California  particularly,  one  of  the  foremost  is  the  main- 
tenance of  suitable  natural  conditions  that  will  encourage  the  residence, 
and  particularly  the  breeding  of  our  indigenous  game.  Without  this, 
there  is  no  foundation  upon  which  to  build  in  its  l)ehalf.  Settling  up  of 
the  countiy  unavoidably  means  turning  tillable  land  beneath  the  plow; 
and  the  subdivision  of  the  large  land-holdings  of  but  yesterday  is 
bound  to  bring  a  continuing  menace  to  the  maintenance  of  the  game. 
Smaller  owners  are  almost  certain  to  cultivate  more  intensively,  where 
the  big  proprietors  left  large  ranges  for  stock,  crops  nowadays  are  going 
in,  often  but  not  always  to  the  deprivation  of  the  sportsman  of  his  most 
desirable  upUuul  "hapi)y  hunting  grounds."  There  is  some  comfort 
in  the  knowledge  that  nuiny  crops  add  something  to  the  food  supply  of 
game;  l)ut  none  can  deny  the  curtailment  in  breeding  u'rounds.  notably 
of  (puiil.  in  the  more  thickly  settled  areas. 

In  various  ways  the  conservation  authorities  have  sought  to  met't  this 
issue  in  the  south  following  the  general  state  i)l:in.  Previous  legislatures 
provided  the  necessary  enaljling  acts  prelinunary  to  the  setting  aside 
of  suitable  ai'cas  for  the  natural  propagation  of  game,  in  the  aggregate, 
millions  of  acres  in  the  national  forests  have  thus  been  reserved  in  the 
form  of  game  refuges.  These,  under  the  Districting  Act,  must  eaidi  l)e 
created  separately  and  in  a  definite  numerical  rotation  even  as  the 
larger  Pish  and  Game  Districts,  which  were  dictated  by  the  desii'e  to 
harmonize  open  seasons  with  the  wide  variance  in  breeding  habits  inci- 
dental to  California's  continental  climatic  range. 

The  game  refuges  of  southern  California  were  altered  somewhat 
both  as  to  l)oundarics  and  as  to  regulations  by  the  last  legislature,  the 
aim  being  to  render  them  as  efficient  as  possilile.  Anti-vernun  cam- 
paigns were  conducted  in  some  of  them,  with  very  material  results, 
not  only  directly  in  the  decrease  of  i)redatoi-y  vermin  but  to  the  very 
evident  benefit  of  the  game  therein.      While  the  area  of  the  Ancreles 


108  REPORT    OP    THE    FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 

Forest  refuges  in  particular  is  so  great  as  to  be  unwieldy  aud  virtually 
impossible  to  pati'ol  efficiently,  the  forest  rangers  have  cooperated  to- 
ward this  end  more  generally  during  the  biennial  period  than  ever  be- 
fore. As  a  result  of  a  number  of  ratlier  unusually  favorable  conditions, 
it  may  now  be  .said  that  the  witbdrawal  of  these  vast  areas  from  the 
sportsmen  appears  to  have  gained  them  more  game  than  it  has  cost. 
Deer  hunting  has  been  more  productive  around  the  borders  of  these 
refuges  than  elsewhere,  due  to  increased  game  overflowing  into  the 
adjacent  country.  'I'lie  very  material  stimulus  given  to  trapping  by  the 
unpreeedentedly  high  i)rices  of  furs  cannot  be  overlooked  as  a  con- 
tributing factor.  For  years,  sportsmen  have  urged  energetic  anti-ver- 
min eam])aigiis  upon  the  part  of  tlie  state  conservation  forces.  Prior  to 
rile  last  legislature,  the  Fish  aud  Game  ('ounnission  entered  upon  an 
experiment  to  determine  what  could  be  expected  from  putting  expert 
hunters  into  the  refuges  to  thin  out  species  predatory  upon  game. 
AVhile  the  experiment  was  entirely  successful,  and  gave  good  reason  to 
believe  that  substantial  results  could  be  attained  in  that  way,  the  "war 
prices"'  on  furs  relieved  the  conservation  authorities  of  any  greater 
responsibility  along  this  line  than  that  involved  in  licensing  trappers 
and  keeping  a  certain  surveillance  upon  them.  There  are  always  a  few 
who  need  watching,  but  in  this  matter,  so  far  as  the  south  is  concerned, 
the  exception  appears  to  have  proved  the  rule.  One  gang  of  trappers  in 
the  southern  Sierra  of  Tulare  County,  after  a  systematic  campaign 
wherein  the  southern  patrol  force  united  to  collect  and  link  up  the 
evidence  necessary  to  prove  up  the  offense,  paid  some  of  the  biggest 
fines  ever  collected  in  fish  and  game  annals,  for  winter  slaughter  of 
deer.  The  job  was  successful  in  securing  pleas  of  guilty,  and  a  thor- 
oughly outraged  public  sentiment  still  awaits  the  chief  offender  for 
furthei'  ])unishment,  despite  the  large  fine  he  paid. 

No  bounties  within  the  state's  power  could  possibly  have  so  stimu- 
lated warfare  upon  predatory  animals  as  the  high  prices  of  furs.  Since 
virtually  all  the  fur-bearing  species  are  predaceous  upon  game,  several 
being  in  fact  so  classed,  the  aggregate  benefit  to  the  mountain  game 
suppl\'  of  tlic  state  is  enormous,  (iixxl  figures  for  skunks  and  other 
small  pelts  have  caused  many  a  farmer's  boy  to  turn  his  spare  time 
into  good  service  for  the  sportsman  as  well.  While  fur  prices  are  on  the 
decline  now  they  are  still  high,  and  so  many  have  formed  the  "trapping 
habit,"  so  to  si)eak,  that  there  is  good  reason  to  hope  for  a  continuance 
of  this  general  campaign  against  the  so-called  "varmints"  of  the  old 
time  Nimrod.  Remembering  that  these  vermin  work  day  and  night  the 
year  through,  without  respect  for  season  or  bag  limit,  one  cannot  but 
feel  considerably  encouraged  over  the  game  outlook.  Obviously,  the 
logical  way  to  meet  the  situation  is  to  substitute  man  for  the  vermin- 


1 


REPORT    OF    TIIK    FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION.  100 

Oils  fiU'tor  ill  tlu'  iiatui'iil  iMiuatioii.  Nature  strikes  her  l)alances  inex- 
orably, hut  hy  reduction  of  animal  enemies  more  remains  for  the 
hunter. 

COMMERCIAL   FISHERIES. 

Development  of  thf  ("oinnicrcial  Fisheries  of  southern  California  has 
enforeed  paying  of  part  inilai-  attention  to  problems  of  the  industry 
in  this  end  of  the  state,  the  Fish  and  (lame  Commission  being  forced  to 
establish  two  branch  offices  in  the  great  centers  of  the  fishing  and  pack- 
ing business  at  San  Pedro  and  San  Diego.  ]\Iean\vhile,  a  steadily  wid- 
ening scale  of  scientific  investigation  has  been  carried  on,  financed  by 
collections  of  class-taxes  levied  upon  various  ])hases  of  the  fisheries. 
While  always  the  major  part  of  the  revenue  will  come  from  licensing 
of  niarket-lishennen  at  ^10  each,  the  pi'ivilege  and  i)ouiidage  taxes  upon 
preserving  of  fish  atld  considerably;  and  the  extensive  patrol  activities 
of  the  state's  patrol  launch  suffice  in  considerable  degree  to  finance 
themselves  through  fines  collected.  The  inclusion  of  Santa  Catalina 
Island  in  two  districts  one  of  which  is  rather  narrowly  limited  to  cer- 
tain classes  of  net  fishing,  and  the  other  and  nearer  entirely  closed  to 
commercial  exploitation,  has  of  course  proved  a  most  fruitful  field 
for  the  state's  patrol  activities  at  sea.  Unavoidably,  during  the  busy 
summer  canning  season,  when  high  prices  for  tuna  and  albacore  place 
every  possible  premium  upon  getting  the  fish  wherever  they  are  to  be 
found,  the  covirts  have  been  kept  congested  with  the  over-ambitious 
netmen.  Encouraging  prices  have  stinuilated  a  large  migration  of 
purse  seiners  from  the  virtually  depleted  waters  of  the  northern  salmon 
ranges  to  southern  California  ;  and  a  long  association  with  the  uncer- 
tainties of  the  International  Boundary  in  the  Straits  of  Juan  de  Fuca 
ai)peared  to  have  inspired  a  considerable  percentage  of  these  new- 
comers with  a  general  contempt  for  all  fish  and  game  law. 

Due  to  the  carefiill\'  lu-ogramined  methods  devised  t'oi-  li.imlliiiu-  the 
always  serious  i)roIilem  of  i  e<_;ulat  ing  alien  lisliernieu  upon  the  sea, 
it  ha.s  been  i)ossible  durinu-  the  lat  summer  to  im-iilcate  a  ilue  and 
proper  resi)ect  for  the  written  law  anions  these  visitants,  and  whether 
they  remain  or  return,  the  conservation  authorities  feel  that  there  will 
be  very  much  less  trouble  with  them  in  the  future.  AVhile  some  stiff 
fines  were  imposed,  and  a  few  verbal  clashes  were  unavoidable,  the 
ends  of  justice  have  been  served  without  any  violence  upon  either 
side.  A  polic,y  of  dignified  firmness  was  outlined  by  the  Commissioners 
in  the  attempt  to  do  no  one  any  injustice.  On  the  one  hand  were  the 
large  packing  interests  clamoring  for  fish  and  ever  more  fish  to  pack 
who  are  backed  by  the  enormously  increased  fleet  of  largest  sized  fish- 
ing boats  equipped  with  the  most  extensive  gear  known.     On  the  other 


no  REPORT    OF    THE    FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 

side  stood  the  law  bitterly  attacked  by  able  eunnsel  as  essentially  "class 
legislation"  in  favor  of  wealthy  sportsmen.  With  these  differences  of 
opinion,  the  conservation  authorities  steadfastly  refused  to  have  any- 
thing to  do.  Once  a  fish  and  game  law  is  enacted  in  California,  that 
removes  the  Fish  and  Game  Connnission  from  any  duty  or  responsi- 
l)ility  other  than  its  enforcement.  Bitterly  criticised  by  both  parties 
to  this  conflict  piscatorial,  blamed  by  the  fishermen  for  its  zeal,  criticised 
by  anglers  for  its  alleged  apathy,  the  fact  remains  that  persistent  prose- 
cutions have  been  met  by  suspended  sentences  of  late  in  the  very 
strongholds  of  this  latter  criticism  so  the  only  logical  conclusion 
must  be  that  on  the  whole  the  situation  has  been  fairly  well  met. 
Today,  with  the  constitutionality  of  the  disputed  law  upheld,  its 
enforcement  must  rest  with  those  justices  whose  sworn  duty  it  is  to 
proi)erly  penalize  violators  whom  the  state's  patrolmen  l)i-ing  before 
them. 

It  has  required  no  small  amount  of  consideration  to  enable  the  conser- 
vation authorities  to  keep  in  touch  with  so  rapidly  changing  a  situation 
as  the  regulation  of  fisheries  on  the  southern  California  coast  alone  dur- 
ing the  past  biennial  period.  Without  discretionary  power  there  has 
been  no  adequate  manner  of  meeting  emergencies  of  supply  and  demand, 
so  the  only  possible  course  has  been  a  policy  of  enforcement  until  neces- 
sary alterations  in  the  laws  could  be  made  by  the  forthcoming  legisla- 
ture. Many  measures  initiated  two  years  ago  have  completely  vindi- 
cated tliemselves,  others  in  the  nature  of  things  have  unavoidably 
proved  inadequate.  So  long  as  no  arrangement  exists  to  adjust  regula- 
tion to  immediate  reciuirements,  even  in  matters  so  transient  and  ever- 
changing  as  fish  and  game  conditions,  the  conservation  authorities  will 
be  comiX'Hed  to  attempt  to  fortell  the  developiiu'iits  of  many  months 
ahead. 

This  uncertainty  has  encouraged  the  Fish  and  Game  Connnission  to 
enter  upon  what  probalily  is  the  most  extensive  program  of  scientific 
research  along  fishery  lines  ever  undertaken  by  any  of  tlie  states. 
While  the  need  is  state-wide  and  the  work  has  not  been  limited  section- 
ally  the  phenomenal  growth  of  the  tish-packing  industry  has  naturally 
focussed  attention  first  upon  southern  problems,  although  these  in  a 
great  measure  liave  a  relation  and  bearing  ujxjm  the  situation  elsewhere. 

The  time  already  has  arrived  when  the  oiit'  boat  charged  with  patrol 
and  scientific  research  is  hopelessly  inadequate,  there  being  enough 
demand  in  eitlier  line  to  occupy  her  entire  available  time.  It  is  probable 
that  eventually  the  excellent  and  seaworthy  patrol-cruiser  "Albacore" 
will  be  detailed  to  scientific  work,  and  replaced  with  a  faster,  bigger 
craft  for  the  regulation  of  fishermen.  When  built,  the  "Albacore" 
was  superior  to  any,  l)ut  the  growth  of  the  fisheries  industry  has  been 


REPORT    OP   THE   PISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION.  Ill 

by  such  leaps  and  hounds  that  today  she  is  no  more  than  al)reast  of  the 
demands  made  upon  lin-  and  within  anothci'  hicnnial  period,  wiicn 
swift  refrigeratintif  carrici-s  arc  operating'  hctwccn  tlic  h)i'al  distrihutin<? 
l)oints  and  the  soni'cr  nf  |)rohahlc  FiitniT  fresh  lish  sufiply  in  \'i\v  south- 
ern waters,  ohviously  sonicthiug  mure  will  be  essentia L  In  scawcji'thi- 
ness,  (omfort.  eiononiy.  cudnraiicc,  the  "  Albacorc"  has  done  all  that 
was  expected  of  her,  and  couhl  not  be  duplicated  t(Klay  at  her  original 
cost. 

Numerous  complications  arc  injected  into  the  regulation  of  California 
fisheries  by  the  lu'oxiinity  of  the  vii'tualiy  virgin  west  Mexican  banks 
off  the  coast  of  Lowei*  California.  Political  uncertainties  Ijelow  the 
line  have  rendered  the  (isliing  business  in  south( fii  waters  a  species  of 
"get  there  fii-st"  game,  rather  preventing  the  effective  and  intelligent 
exploitation  of  these  ciiot'iniuis,  perhaps  inexhaustibh^  fishery  resources, 
which  so  well  might  be  eui[)h)yed  to  allow  certain  of  tlie  lo. 'alls'  dci)leted 
species  to  recuperate.  Until  something  definite  evolves  out  of  the  south- 
ern situation,  Mexican  fish  will  merely  continue  to  be  an  indefinite, 
nns(  tiling  factoi-  in  the  fresh  fish  business,  occasionally  glutting  the 
uuirket,  again  falling  into  monopolistic  control,  yielding  but  a  small  part 
of  their  potential  possibilities.  Comi)etent  observers  consider  the  south- 
I'ln  supply  of  fish  as  far  in  excess  of  what  California's  colder  waters 
ever  could  show  and  general  ob.servations  by  the  state's  research  experts 
go  far  to  confirm  that  ccnjecture.  Eventually  this  supply  will  certainly 
become  available  to  California  under  modern  and  efficient  refrigeration. 

No  section  of  the  state  has  been  so  clamorous  and  exacting  in  its 
demands  upon  our  fishcultural  facilities  as  southern  California.  With 
her  populatii  n  n:ounting  by  unprecedented  figures,  it  seems  as  if  an 
abnormal  proportion  of  the  increase  were  anglers.  While  in  measure 
such  a  conditicn  might  Ije  construed  as  a  testimonial  to  the  efficacy  of 
the  h'ish  an.l  Game  Commission's  consistent  campaigns  in  advertising 
the  south "s  sporting  attractions,  which  find  a  ready  ear  with  th(^  large 
ItMsure  class  attracted  here  by  climatic  opportunities  for  yv'ar-round 
(  n.joynient  of  outdoor  sports.  Certainly  the  fact  remains  tliat  fishing 
nevei-  was  more  popular  anywhere  than  here. 

ANGLING  CONDITIONS. 
Favored  none  too  bountifully  by  Nature  in  the  way  of  natural  waters, 
the  very  scarcity  of  streams  and  lakts  has  brought  by  artificial  means 
its  own  remrd.v.  Orowth  of  i)opulation  and  cultivation  has  enforced 
the  (onservation  of  water  and  its  devclo[)ment  wherever  possible.  The 
situation  was  api)reciatcd  in  advance  by  tho.se  whose  thoughts  are 
shaped  along  the  line  of  providing  the  people  w  ith  healthful  sport  afield. 
From  I  he  \-cry  Hi'st.  lish  wei'e  idanteil  in  the  reservoir  lak'cs  generally 

8—7857 


112  REPORT    OP    THE    FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 

with  encouraging  success.  As  a  result^  the  angling  attraction  proves 
potent  enough  to  finance  further  efforts. 

The  scanty  streams  of  southern,  steep  gorge  watersheds  do  not  lend 
themselves  to  the  natural  maintenance  of  trout.  Too  much  water,  or 
too  littk\  is  the  ever  present  menace.  ^lany  a  stream  is  planted  annu- 
ally in  the  certainty  that  there  can  be  but  little  natural  propagation 
therein.  The  best  trout  lake  in  the  extreme  south,  Big  Bear,  in  the 
San  Bernardino  watershed,  is  now,  and  for  some  years  past  has  been  on 
an  essentiall\  ;ii't  iticially  inaiiilained  basis.  The  natural  spawning 
facilities  in  its  sliort,  steep  creeks  are  under  ordinary  conditions  virtu- 
ally nil.  At  considerable  expense,  the  Fishcultural  Department  has 
installed  two  hatcheries,  with  spawn-taking  racks  and  has  sent  a  crew 
of  its  most  skilled  men  into  Bear  Valley  every  spring  to  gather  such 
eggs  as  Nature  olfered,  these  were  hatched  in  the  local  plants  for  distri- 
bution in  the  lake  and  streams  of  the  range.  Last  spring,  although 
facilities  had  been  almost  doubled  the  fall  before,  the  egg-take  followed 
the  general  rule  in  the  state  and  fell  off  until  not  enough  eggs  were 
available  to  operate  to  full  capacity,  even  though  the  turnoft'  was  about 
that  of  the  year  before. 

In  measure.  Big  Bear  Lake's  great  popularity  as  the  "Tahoe  of  the 
south,"  so-called,  has  proved  its  undoing  for  mid-summer  sport  at  the 
height  of  the  season  and  the  concentration  of  tlie  water  through  several 
dry  seasons  has  played  a  part.  The  number  of  adult  fish  seen  every 
spring  at  the  spawn-taking  stations  and  out  in  the  bays  at  the  creek 
mouths  has  indicated  an  abundant  supply.  Fishing  is  always  good 
enough  to  satisfy  the  most  ardent  fishermen  both  early  and  late  in  the 
season.  The  state's  students  of  such  conditions  are  of  the  opinion  that  a 
normal  winter  will  restore  the  fishing  to  its  former  sustained  excellence, 
its  consistency  lieing  one  of  the  most  remarka])le  things  about  it  in  past 
years. 

Realizing  several  years  ago  tliat  southern  California's  demands  could 
no  longer  be  met  by  long  sliii)ments  from  the  mother  hatcliery  under 
Mount  Shasta,  Fisli  and  (ianic  Conuuissioner  Connell  set  about  search- 
ing for  a  site  combining  the  necessary  conditions  of  cold,  pure  water 
in  certainty  of  supply,  with  accessibility  to  transportation  and  after 
long  consideration,  the  eastern  Sierra  was  selected  as  a  site  for  the 
splendid  IMount  Whitney  Hatchery,  which  today  supplies  the  lower  end 
of  the  state,  as  well  as  the  enormous  aggregate  area  of  fishing  waters 
within  motor-truck  and  pack-train  reach  of  its  troughs. 

Had  it  accomplished  nothing  remarkable  beyond  the  successful  rear- 
ing of  the  rare  and  delicate  goblm  trout,  the  Mount  Whitney  Hatch- 
ery would  have  successfully  established  itself  among  the  great  fish- 
cultural  institutions  of  the  world.     But  in   addition  to  this  hitherto 


REPORT    OP   THE    PISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 


113 


unprecedented  arf()iri[)lislmii'iit,  llic  I'ciuafk.-ilily  ravoraljlc;  waters  ot" 
Oak  Creek  upon  which  this  hitest  of  trout  liatcheries  is  situated,  have 
set  new  records  for  tlic  <iT()\\  iiil;  of  all  kinds  of  \'vy.  Its  site  was  eliosen 
with  the  same  realization  of  inereasinL;  t'ntiife  deiii.-nids  that  has  actu- 
ated the  b'isli  and  (Janie  ( 'oniniission  in  all  its  recent  enterprises.  With 
not  a  nniiute's  prematui-ity  in  its  foretliou<ilit.  tin'  ( 'onnnissiori  set  about 
huihlinii'  up  the  l)arren  lakes  of  tlie  Sierra  as  soon  as  tlie  .Mount  Whitney 
Hatchery  hejjan  to  operate.  ("onse((uently,  sportsmen  have  found  fish 
teemiuu'  in  numy  a  hdce  that  three  years  a<;o  was  barren.  They  have 
enjoyed  tlie  keenest  of  the  tly-easter's  sensations  in  battling  with  the 
wonderful  golden  ti'ont  in  those  hij2:h.  crystal-elear  lakes.  To  such  an 
extent  did  the  needs  of  the  situation  impress  Commi.ssioner  .M.  d.  ( 'on- 
nell  that  he  personally  tnok  charge  of  the  dist  filnd  ion  of  the  6U0,(JU() 
odd  golden  trout  reared  in  the  .Alount  Whitney  Hatchery  from  the 
"take"  of  eggs  at  Cottonwood  Lakes  this  year,  limiting  the  planting 
to  sjK'eially  selected  and  barren  waters  which  henceforth  are  to  be 
golden  trout  lakes  and  streams,  thus  providing  an  infinitely  i)leasing 
variety  to  the  summer  Sierran  camper.  Large  federal  motor-trucks 
lend  a  most  businesslike  air  to  the  distribution  of  trout  from  the  ^Mount 
AVhitney  Hatchery,  but  of  i our  e  the  actual  i)lanting  is  a  laborious 
pack-train  proposition,  tedious  and  expensive  at  best. 


Fl«.    J6.       -Mount     W'hitn.-y     I  l;it>  d.  i.,  ,     .-li.  i\\  in-     n.\vl\-     i;i.j. 

by  J.   L,.   \'iMi   HIdii. 


. ,  ■  >\    ,L;i"iinil.- 


114 


REPORT    OP    THE   FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 


Extensive  inipruveuieiits  iii  the  gfoiuuls  at  the  Blount  Whitney  Hatch- 
ery liave  matle  it  such  a  sliow-nhiee  that  many  visit  it  every  week,  mak- 
ing  the  short  drive  from  the  main  Eastern  Sierra  Highway,  and  feel 
well  I'cpaid  for  the  trip.  Thanks  to  the  eooperation  of  Park  Superin- 
tendent John  ]\IaeLaren  of  San  Pranidsco,  a  {)artieularly  harmonious 
bit  of  landscaping  has  been  consummated.  The  general  effect  is  a 
natural  park,  the  typical  trees  and  plants  of  the  region  having  been 
used.  As  one  approac  lies  through  the  great  rough-stone  gate,  the  view 
is  entirely  conunensurate  witli  the  nobility  and  dignity  of  California, 


Fig. 


27.      Fish    i-ond   and    gardens    ;it    llu-    Mount    Wiiilmx     llalilui.v. 

J.  L,.  Von  Blon. 


Fliotogiaph    by 


and  in  perfect  keeping  with  the  enduring  character  of  the  primeval 
Sierrau  surrcundings.  To  have  neglected  this  "finishing  touch"  upon 
a  work  so  eminently  successful  in  all  its  practical  features  would 
have  been  to  stop  short  of  attaining  an  aci;essible  ideal.  The  sportsmen 
of  southern  California  can  well  take  a  lasting  pride  in  this,  their  most 
substantial  and  most  tangible  accomplishment. 

A  most  encouraging  measure  of  cooperation  in  all  lines  of  conserva- 
tion woi-k  has  not  failed  to  extend  it  ^  iuHuence  to  the  actual  physical 
work  of  planting  the  fish  reared  in  the  southern  hatcheries,  particularly 
over  the  past  biennial  period.  Without  such  public  interest  and  assist- 
ance, it  would  be  impossible  to  distribute  the  output  of  the  hatcheries 


I 


REPORT    OF    TIIK    FISH    AND    OAMH    COMMISSION. 


11.') 


under  oxistint,'  tinanci.il  coiulitions.  (iradually,  the  FislK'nllural 
l)('j>artiii('iit  lias  hiiilt  up  an  elahoratr  system  of  employing  and  organ- 
izing  tills  popular  eutliiisiasin  by  turning  it  to  a  definite  service.  ^lany 
men  are  planling  fish  now  wh.o  have  hcen  doing  it  in  llie  same  waters 
for  many  years.  In  San  I'.iMiiardiiio  Coniily.  the  l)oai'(l  of  supervisors 
undertake  the  entire  distril)iiti(in.  the  resident  deputy  is  in  charge, 
and  the  work  occupies  the  better  \y,\v\  of  two  months,  being  done  in  an 
intensive  manner.  It  has  maintained  sport  at  an  attractive  level  despite 
what  doiditless  are  the  greatest  demands  which  have  ever  been  made  by 
anglers  upon  an\'  similar  lak'es  and  streams. 


i 


-»  '^-Siyscr.' 


H  ic.  I's.  .NuvViy  iiiusnea  risiiway  built  hy  8oiilliein  Culnunua  ii,ais.jii  Coiiiijany  at 
Kern  River  plant  No.  .";.  Built  according  to  plans  furnished  by  the  Fish  and  Game 
Commission. 

No  consideration  of  fish  cultural  work  in  the  south  would  be  complete 
without  a  reference  to  the  "people's  fish" — the  large-mouthed  black- 
bass.  Introduced  into  the  north  years  ago,  the  lusty  "bronze-back" 
thrived  amazingly  in  the  wai-m  waters  and  congenial  environment  of 
the  artificially  established  southern  reservoirs.  Today,  business  men 
can,  and  do.  take  nice  catches  of  good  sized  bass  right  in  the  city 
limits  of  Los  Angeles,  enjoying  sport  in  all  the  celebrated  methods, 
casting  the  fly,  using  the  short  "plug-bait"  rod  or  various  natural 
baits.  When  it  is  considered  that  only  a  few  years  ago  there  were  no 
bass  in  the  south,  and  no  prospect  of  any,  their  introduction  identifies 
itself  as  something  of  an  achievement  in  behalf  of  the  sportsman-angler 


116  REPORT   OF   THE   FISH   AND   GAME    COMMISSION. 

Such  ready  acoossihility  is  by  no  means  tlie  least  of  its  charms  and  it 
liolds  a  hriuht  future  as  further  flood  control  and  reservoir  projects 
materialize. 

Such  success  has  attended  the  introduction  of  bass  in  certain  of  the 
San  Diego  city  water  service  reservoirs  that  a  well  warranted  plea  for 
an  entire  removal  of  the  -\nnter  closed  season  upon  these  fish  is  being 
made  to  the  present  leii'islatur(>  liy  those  who  argue  correctly  that  the 
fish  are  best  for  the  table  in  winter  ami  have  so  increased  that  in  the 
present  open  season  the  anglers  cannot  hold  their  numbers  within  the 
limits  of  desirability. 

The  efi^orts  witli  game  have  not  been  relaxed  during  the  biennial 
period.  By  stricter  legislation  and  by  steadily  increasing  the  measures 
toward  enforcement  of  law,  the  state  has  ])een  Imilding  its  best  against 
the  certainty  of  increases  in  demand  each  year.  Propagation  of  game 
is  to  be  reinforced  by  wholesale  importation  as  soon  as  the  experimental 
work  has  demonstrated  the  right  si)ecies  with  which  to  win. 

Nor  have  the  activities  of  the  California  conservation  commissioners 
been  comprised  entirely  by  limitations  of  sportsmen.  Rather,  the  aim 
has  been  to  stimulate  field-sports,  to  encourage  a  wider  use  of  our  wild 
life  resources  by  a  greater  number  of  outdoor  exploiters  every  succeed- 
ing season.  In  every  practical  way,  this  object  has  been  advanced. 
Information  has  been  distributed  broadcast  through  all  available  chan- 
nels, and  always  hand  in  hand  with  the  most  direct  aims  of  conservation 
that  there  may  be  more  fish  for  which  to  angle  and  more  game  to  hunt. 

Last  summer,  after  several  conferences  with  leading  sportsmen  and 
business  men  of  the  Owens  Valley,  where  the  attraction  value  of  fish 
and  game  are  appreciated  at  par.  Commissioner  Connell  succeeded  in 
organizing  a  movement  for  the  building  of  a  trail  into  the  now  virtu- 
ally inaccessible  "Sixty  Lake  Basin"  above  Mount  Whitney  Hatchery, 
in  which  wonderful  wealth  of  previously  barren  waters,  the  Fish  and 
Game  Commission  has  {)lanted  and  built  up  such  a  stock  of  trout,  two 
miles  above  the  sea,  that  until  additional  feed  was  introduced,  the  fish 
had  increased  beyond  the  capacity  of  those  high  lakes  to  fatten  them. 
This  last  year,  exploration  parties  found  tlieiii  in  prime  condition 
awaiting  the  flies  of  the  sportsman.  As  a  result — partly  of  the  success- 
ful acclimatization  of  the  fish,  partly  of  the  organization  of  local  senti- 
ment in  favor  of  making  this  entirely  new  vacation  ground  easy  of 
access  another  summer — an  excellent  trail  is  being  surveyed.  Thus,  the 
present  top-heavy  demand  of  southern  California  sportsmen  upon 
the  Mono  Sierra  will  be  diversified  by  this  virtually  virgin  counter 
attraction  one  hundred  miles  nearer  the  center  of  population. 

Such  linking  up  of  all  the  otherwise  diverging  lines  in  behalf  of  a 
direct,  straight-from-the-shoulder  policy  of  encouraging,  regulating  and 


REPORT    OF    THE    PISII    AND    GAME    COMMISSION.  117 

controlling  sporting  onthusiasm  along  the  course  of  greatest  general 
benefit  to  the  entire  pul)li(',  never  h)sing  siyht  of  the  main  uses  of  fish 
and  game  as  iiKhicciiictits  towjifd  I  lie  liciltlit'iil,  recreative  outdoors  is 
characteristic  of  the  California  policy  ol'  coiisci-sat ioii.  nowhere  better 
or  more  earnestly  exemplified  or  ajipreciated  tiiaii  in  1his  Southern 
Division.  It  remains  oni'  liope.  as  i1  certainly  is  our  object,  that  these 
etfoT'ts  shall  iie\cr  he  ciirl.iijed  or  narrowed  in  their  striving  for  that 
goal.  Always  the  idea  ol'  iindeviating  public  service  along  the  lines  of. 
the  greatest  general  good  to  the  people  must  remain  the  aim. 

Respectfully  submittetl, 

(Signed;      Edwin   L.   IIeddkkly, 

Assistant. 


118 


REPORT    OF   THE   FISn    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 


FISH     DISTRIBUTION    BY    COUNTIES,    SEASON    1918. 
Mount   Shasta    Hatchery. 


County 


Alpine    

Amador 

Butte    

Calaveras  

Colusa   

Contra  Costa  

DpI  Norte  

Kl  Dorado  

F'rcsno    : 

Lake   

Madera    

Mariposa    

Modoc    

Monterey    

Napa 

Nevada    

Placer  

Plumas    

San   Benito    

San  Luis  Obispo  

Santa  Barbara  

Shasta   

Sierra   

Siskiyou    

Sonoma  

Tehama    . 

lYinity 

Tuolumne 

Ventura    

Yuba    

Ponds  Mount  Shista  Hatchery. 

Totals 


Kaiuliow 


12,00(0 

85,000 
127,000 
190,000 

80,0^0 
4,{XjO 


166,000 

133,000 

15,CC0 

201,000 

136,000 

22,000 

i2r>,roo 

10,000 

aj8,oco 

112,000 
110,000 


3,500 


248,600 
60,000 

165,000 
20,0S0 

144,000 
815,000 

ISO.O'jO 
42,000 
25,000 


Kastem 
brook 


94, -500 
43,000 

10,000 


108,000 
95,000 


37,000 


48,000 
91,000 
62,000 


6,CC0 

e,ooo 

139,500 

30,COO 
130,000 


2,528,500 


6,flOO 
42,000 
63,000 


16,000 


1,033,000 


I.och 
l.eveu 


75,000 

92,000 

146,000 


110,000 
117,000 


34,000 


154,000 

48,000 

150,000 


15,000 
10,000 

190,000 
9,000 

169,000 


3B,0CO 

50,000 

108,000 


16,000 
28,C0'3 


1,559,000 


Ulack- 
sBotted 


1,000* 

24,000 

6,000 


50,000 


60,000 
10,000 
80,000 


231,000 


St€£lhead 


4,000 


46,0O0' 


40,000 
4,030 


150,000 


40,000 

30,000 
84,000 


12,000 

1CO,000 

3,000 


l,4&4,0OO 


Salmon 


100,000 


120,000 
110,000 

34,000 

40,000 

18,000 
314,000 
125,000 

70,000 

30,000 
100,000 

20,000 


25,000 


13,195,000 


25,000 


13,345,000 


•Cutthroat. 


REPORT    OF    THE    FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 


119 


Mount   Whitney   Ha 

tchery. 

County 

Rainbow 

28,000 

136,000 

]SO,iX)0 

17?,000 

4,000 

£6,000 

Eastern 
broolt 

C5;.«) 

•JO  COO 

0,000 

20,000 

8,000 

Loch 

IjOVOII 

Ul.OOO 

Blaclt- 

9!)iitted 

Steclhead 

trout 
(iiilili-ii 

Fresno 

10,000 

17,C0<> 

WJ.OJO 

20,000 
12,000 
30,000 

Inyo    

35,000 

T  t\<i     \  tutpIpq 

14,000 
8,000 

44,000 

2J,000 

32,500 

8-.O0O 

10,000 

18,00" 

6,000 

100,000 

Placer    

165,000 

Hivor.^ide    

San  Horiiardino             

32,0CO 
lO.COO 
'vS.OOO 
45,000 

— ■ 

ai,oco 

Sail   I>i(*po 

4,000 

2,500 
»^0CO 

:.ii:ooo 

36.000 

20,000 

Sierra 

1\ilare 

328,000 
50,000 

20,000 
S.COO 

110,000 

4,00.1 
110,000 

Ponds  Mount  Whitney  Hatehery.. 

60,000 

Totals    

1,073,000 

128,500 

74,000 

314,500 

245,000 

384,000 

Fort   Seward    Hatchery. 

County 

Rainbow 

Steelliead 

Salmon 

Humboldt                 -     --                   

80,000 

760,000 
50,000 
20,003 

1,094,000 

Trinity      —                                                                                    --      - 

58,000 

Totals 

147,C«0 

830,0Cf, 

1,004,000 

Tahoe    Hatchery. 


County 

Rainbow 

Black- 
spotted 

KI  Dorado                                                    - --  - - -- 

To.OOfl 

4v,C03 

Placer  _                       --  

15,CO0 

205,000 

Sierra                                                                                                     --  - 

75,000 

Totals    

15,000 

b95,000 

Mount    Tallac 

Hatchery. 

County 

Rdi.nbow 

Eastern 
brook 

Steelhead 

Alpine  

60,000 
80,000 
10,000 

1,133,000 

10,001 

Ei  Dorado     -    

245,000 

Placer    _                                                 _  .           .    . 

100,000 

Totals 

149,000 

1,1S3,0C0 

355,000 

Almanor  Hatchery. 


County 


Ralntjow 


Lassen    .. 
Plumas  -- 

Total 


61,00C 

85,000 


143,000 


120 


REPORT    OF    THE   FISH    AND    GAME    COMMISSION. 
Ukiah    Hatchery. 


County 


Steclhead 


Mendocino 
Sonoma    .. 


Total 


305,000 
123,000 


430,000 


Bear  Lake   Hatchery. 


County 


Rainl)Ow 


San   Bernardino 


783,000 


Domingo  Springs   Hatchery. 

County 

Rainbow 

Steelheail 

Lassen    _- .- - 

120,000 

193,000 

4,000 

4,000 

Plumas --    --           --    -      -- -- -- 

94.0JO 

• 

Totals 

31'7,00O 

96,0C0 

Wawona   Hatchery. 


County 

Rainbow    Steelhead 

MariDosa                              --- - 

98,000 

196.000 

Snow  IVlountain  Station. 


Mendocino 


County 


steelhead 


125,000 


Santa  Clara 
Santa   Cruz 


Total 


Brookdale  Hatchery. 


County 


Steelhead 


210,000 
500,000 


710,000 


Feather   River   Hatchery. 


County 


Rainbow 


Plumas    - - - 124,000 


Black- 
spotted 


119,000 


North   Creek   Hatchery. 


County 


San  Bernardino 


Rainbow 


300,000 


REPORT   OF   THE   FISH    AND   GAME    COMMISSION. 


121 


Fish  Transplantation. 


Counties                      Heirlng 

Pike 

Cnrp 

niack 
Iias9 

Tat- 
flsh 

Blue- 
gllU 

Perch 

' 

1,005 

229 

16 

53,787 
140 

57 

12 

12 

15 

2 

5,000 

Totals      - 

12 

12 

15 

1,^0 

53,927 

2 

5,057 

Summary   of    Fish 

Distribution,   Season    1918. 

Hatcheries 

Rainbow 

Eastern 
brook 

Loch 
l.even 

Black- 
srotted 

Steel- 
head 

Oolden 
trout 

Salmon 

146,000 

783,000 

• 

710,000 
98,000 

' 

T><)iiiingo  Springs  

317,000 
124,000 
147,000 
2,528,500 
1,073,000 
300,000 

119,000 

Vt       Kt^wnrfl 

830,000 

1,494,000 

245,000 

348,000 

1,094,000 

Mt      Shasta            

1,033,000  1    1,559,000 
128,500  ]         74,000 

231,000 
314,500 

13,345,000 

125,000 

15,000 
149,000 

1 

395,000 

TMlhtf 

1,133,000 

355,000 
430,000 
196,000 

— — 

T'lrijih 

98,000 

Totals          -- 

5,680,500 

2,294.500 

1.633.0OO      1,059,500 

4,483,000 

348,000 

14,439,000 

15,534,500 

T'ntnl    milnmn                                                    - 

14,439,000 

29,973,500 

122 


REPORT  OF  THE  FISH  AND  GAME  COMMISSION. 


Mount  Shasta  Hatchery  Fish  Distribution,  by  Counties,  Season  1919. 


Counties 

Raluhow 

Eastern 
brook 

Loch 
I>even 

Black- 
spotted 

Steel- 
bead 

Brown 
trout 

Salmon 

Alameda    _ 

73,000 

22,500 

85,000 

130,000 

137,500 

60,000 

9,000 

150,000 

144,000 

15,000 

43,000 

22,500 

100,000 

191,000 

132,500 

122,000 

Alpine    

Amador    

70,000 
44,000 

50,000 
75,000 
80,000 

Butte   

30,000 

9,000 
60,000 
20,000 

9,000 
250,000 

20,000 
4,000 

200,000 

Calaveras    

Colusa         -           -    - 

Contra  Costa  - --- 

El   Dorado 

6S,000 
80,000 

261,000 
208,000 

15,000 

Fresno  

Lake 

Lassen    -    . 

12,000 

4,000 



" 

Marin _- 

Mariposa  

15,000 
20,000 
28,000 

15,000 
2,000 

Modoc 

83,500 

|. 

Mono                  _    -    

'! 

Monterey -- 

100,000 
25,000 
147,000 
187,000 
145,000 
51,000 

.-    _.    . 

Napa      

197,500 

50,000 

4,000 

26,000 

250,000 

Nevada  

94,000 
52,000 
61,000 

_    

220,000 

220,500 

114,000 

31,000 

20,000 

30,000 

50,000 

Placer    

Plumas       -- . 

12,000 

10,000 

San  Luis  Obispo-- 

2,500 

6,000 



22,500 

Santa  Clara    .  _    - 

5,000 

251,000 

68.-r<:o 

160,000 

Shasta      -- 

60,000 

74.(0'* 

226.000 

210,000 
1  f>."(»"- 
488,000 

20,000 
40,000 

40,000 

Si"rTa       -         --    

Siskivou                 --    _     - 

15,000 

-  - 

Siskiyou 

*17S  000 

Siskiyou 

tl0,018,000 

30,000 
56,000 
61,000 
225,000 
25,000 
23,000 

10,000 

32,000 

108,000 

4,000 

10,000 

20,000 

76,000 

147,000 



30,000 

Tehama         

Trinity 

Tuolumne       --           

100,000 



25,000 

Yuba                      --    — 

48,000 



Totals 

2,468,500 

1,070,000 

2,746,000 

87,000 

1,411,500 

320,000 

50,000 

'Silver  salmon. 
tQuinnat  salmon. 


Mount   Whitney   Hatchery. 


Counties 


Fresno 

Inyo — 

Kern  

Los  Angeles 

Madera  

Mariposa  .„ 

Mono  

Riverside   

San   Diego   

San    Luis   Obispo. 
Santa  Barbara  ..- 

Tulare  

Ventura    


Rainbow 


200,000 

180,000 

120,000 

40,000 

18  000 

14,000 

56,000 

56,000 

8,000 

21,000 

178,000 

132,000 


Totals -!    1,023,000 


Eastern 
brooli 


20,000 
20,000 
10,000 
10,000 


8,000 
4,000 


11,000 
10,000 


93,000 


Loch 
Leven 


70,000 
30,000 
10,000 
10,000 


3,000 


8,000 


136,000 


Steel- 
head 


8,000 
30,000 
90,000 


10,000 


49,000 


121,000 

63,000 

104,000 


474,000 


Black- 
spotted 


71,000 

121,000 

90,000 


Golden 
trout 


31,000 
180,000 


52,000 


4,000 


239,000 


64,000 


402,000 


450,000 


REPORT  OP  THE  FISIf   AM)  GAME  COMMISSION. 
Tahoe   Hatchery. 


123 


Counties 

Rainbow 

Black- 
spotted 

Golden 
trout 

EI  Doraiio      

6,000 

45,000 

Mariposa       

24,6lO 

Nevada                -- — — - 

25,000 
40,000 
25,000 

70,000 

176.000 

60,000 

Placer      --                              __                     ._     .     _    __    

210,000 

Sierra       

Totals _ 

96,000 

851.000 

234,650 

Mount  Tallac   Hatctiery. 


Counties 

Rainlxjw 

Black- 
spotted 

•Steel- 
head 

Kl  Dorado  

Placer ..  .  .... 

28,000 

630,0C0 

143,000 
17,000 

Totals 

51,000 
25,000 

6S5,00O 
25,000 

185,000 
25,OrO 

Alpine 

Fort  Seward    Hatchery. 


Counties 

Rainbow 

Eastern 
brool; 

Steel - 
head 

Salmon 

Humboldt  -.           -.    .. 

186,000 

8,0CO 
40,000 

8,500 

538,000  ' 

932,000 

M'ndoiino 

Trinity -.        .  . 

1 

Totals 

234,000 

8,500 

538,000 

932,000 

Ukiah    Hatchery. 


Mendocino 
Sonoma    -_ 


'I'otaL 


Counties 


Steel - 
bead 


270  000 
330,000 


600,COO 


Lake 

Mendocino 


Snow  IVIountaIn  Station. 
Counties 


Steel- 
head 


27,000 
223,000 


Total- 


2o0,00O 


Brookdale  Hatchery. 


Counties 


Steel - 
head 


Monterey  

San  Mateo  .. 
Santa    Clara 
Santa   Cruz  . 


6,000 
100,000 
208,000 
535,000 


TotaL 


849,000 


124 


REt^ORT  OF  THE  FISH  AND  GAME  COMMISSION. 
Clear  Creek  Hatchery. 


Counties 

Rainbow 

Lassen 

Plumas            - 

152,000 
5,0CO 

Total 

157,000 

Domingo  Springs  Hatchery. 


Counties 

Rainbow 

Steel- 
bead 

Lassen  - — - 

Plumas               -    

28,000 

112,000 

80,000 

30,000 

40,000 

46,000 

Totals 

220,000 

116,000 

Bear   Lake   Hatchery. 


San  Bernardino 


County 


Rainbow 


748,0C0 


Wawona  Hatchery. 

Counties 

Rainbow 

Steel- 
liead 

Madera       --    -- 

9,000 
UdflOO 

9,000 
91,000 

Mariposa --             - 



Totals- 

155.0CO 

100,000 

North   Creek   Hatchery. 


County 


Rainbow 


San  Bernardino 


810,000 


Yosemite 

Hatchery. 

Counties 

Rainbow 

Black- 
spotted 

Steel - 
head 

186,500 
5,000 

89,200 
10,500 

81,600 
15,000 

Tuoluiiiiie 

Totals 

191,500 

99,700 

96,600 

Fall  Creek  Hatchery. 


Siskiyou 


County 


Rainbow 


670,000 


Quinnat 
salmon 


1,14S,-J<J0 


i 


REPORT  OF  'I'HK  KISII    WD  GAME  COMMISSION. 


I2r 


Kaweah   Hatchery 

Counties 

Fresno — 

Tulare    -— 

Totals _ 


ItalMl)ow 


9.500 
230,000 


239,500 


niark- 
spotted 


1,000 
45,000 


46,000 


St  eel - 
head 


3,C00 
95,000 


98,000 


Fish   Transplantation. 


Counties 

BInck 

liass 

Sun- 
flsh 

Crapple 

Calico 
bass 

Striped 
bass 

Cat- 
flsh 

Blue- 
glU 

AlHtllO(]ft 

22 

9 
16 
18 
13 

60 
180 

12 

135 

14 

Frpsno 

i 

1 

Napa 

Plai'iT 

75 
32 

San  T  iiis  Ohisno 

S^'iOO 

38 

Snn  Afjiton 

32 

6 

50 

24 

32 

30 

25 

50 

SonoiTlA 

550 
44 

Yi  bft                                              '                  T7 

Tctals — 

183 

210 

210 

733 

3,500 

38 

SO 

Summary   Fish    Di 

stributior 

,  Season 

1919. 

Hatcheries 

Rainbow 

Eastern 
brook 

Loch 
Leven 

Black- 
spotted 

Steel- 
head 

Golden 
trout 

Brown 
trout 

Bear  T  ak<> 

748,000 

Brookilal" 

849,000 

f ^Ic jii*  ( ^rcplc 

157,000 
920  000 

Domingo  Springs 

Fall  Cr9?k 

— 



116,000 

I 

670  000  1 

234  OCO             «  sno 

538,000 

98,000 
1,411,.500 

185,000 
474,000 

"~250,000' 



K  Ji\v"iih 

239  000 

2,468,500 

51,000 

1  023  000 

46,000 

87,000 

6S5.O0O 

402,000 

1,070,000 

2,746,000 

320,000 

Mount  Tallao 

Mount  Whitney 

North  Cn'ek          --    

QS  nnn 

136,000 

450,000 

810,000  ] 

rahoe  _— - 

Ukiah 

96,000 

351,000 

234,650 

600,000 

100,000 

96,(«10 

VVn  wnnn. 

155,000 
191,500 

1 

99,700 

Totals                  - 

7,063,500  \    1,171,500 

2.882.700 

1. 670.700 

4.718.100 

684.650 

320,000 

Grand    IoImI    trout _ — 18,510,450 

(iraml    total    .-lalnion 12,326.200 

Fish  tran.«plantation  '■  '1,984 


Total    of    grand    totals - '  30,841,034 


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130 


REPORT  OF  THE  PISH  AND  GAME  COMMISSION. 


CANNED,     CURED     AND     MANUFACTURED     FISHERY     PRODUCTS     OF     CALL 

FORNIA   FOR   THE  YEAR  1918. 

Compiled  by  Department  of  Commercial   Fisheries. 
Canned. 


Abalone — 
l-pound 

Albacore— 
l-pound 
J-poiind 
J-pound 

Anthovy — 
5-pound 
4-pound 
?,-pound 

Barracuda— 
^-pound 

Benito  and 
l-pound 
J-pound 
J-pound 

Herring — 
l-pound 
J-pound 

Maekerel— 
l-pound 
i-pound 

SaWefish— 
l-pound 

Salmon — 
l-pound 
l-pound 
l-pound 
J-poand 

Sardines— 
l-pound 
J-pound 
l-pound 
J-pound 
4-pound 
l-pound 
J-pound 
l-pound 
3-pound 
i-pound 

Shad— 
l-pound 

Shad  roe— 
J-pound 

Skipjack— 
l-pound 

Tuna*— 

l-pound 

l-pound 

J-pound 

■IVpotmd 

Turtle— 
l-pound 
l-pound 

Yellowtail— 
l-pound 
l-pound 
5-pound 


skipjack- 


(oval) 


(tall)  .. 
(flat)  . 
(oval) 
(flat)  . 


(oval)  .- 
(oval)  ... 
(round)  .. 
(round)  . 
(round)  . 
(square)  . 
(square), 
(square), 
(square)  . 
(square)  . 


tomato, 
oil 


San  Diego, 
cases 


San  Pedro, 
cases 


300 


24 

765 

9,527 

12,310 


17,790 
174 


1,101 


19,563 


67,785 


42 

5,788 

41,6i2 

2,647 


300 
100 

8,328 

31,737 

405 


17,392 

56,214 

9,195 


Northern 

California, 

cases 


2,012 

48.342 

5,3)5 


3,450 

4,n6S 


138.532 

3,7SS 

138,879 

228,139 

51,841 

F)0,076 

70,850 


78,756 


33,825 

16J,744 

29,404 

288 

199 
29 

2,824 
28,537 


1,42.T 


1,522 

227 
450 


58,320 
5,817 


25 

8,395 

3,304 

197 

22,540 


593,315 
13,244 


945 


3,716 

4,249 

133 

3,997 

5,056 

2,213 


♦Includes  some  albacore. 


REPORT  OF  THE  FISH  AND  GAME  COMMISSION. 


131 


CANNED,     CURED     AND     MANUFACTURED     FISHERY     PRODUCTS     OF     CALI- 
FORNIA   FOR    THE    YEAR    1918— Continued. 

Compiled  by  Department  of  Commercial  Fisheries. 
Salted  Fish. 


\.  San  Dleso    i  San  Pedro 


Northern 
f'allfi)rnla 


Tot-ils 


Anchovy — 

Barrels    -— - 

i5-poiind  cans  

5-poiinds  cans  

Barracuda^ 

Barrels    

Black  sea  bass- 
Barrels    

Bonito  — 

Barrels    

Mackerel- 
Barrels    

18-pound  kits   

Rock  bass- 
Barrels    

Kock  cod- 
Barrels    

Sableflsh— 

Barrels    

Salachini — 

100-pound  tubs 

63-pound  tubs 

50-pound  tubs  

Salmon- 
Casks   (mild  cured). 

Sardines — 

Barrels    

40-pound  barrels  ..-- 

25-pound  cans 

IS-pound   kits   

Sea  bass- 
Barrels    

Shad- 
Casks   (mild  cured). 

Tellowfln — 

Barrels    

Yellowtail— 

Barrels    


450 


63 


12 


110 


29 


425 


20 


310 
2,600 
1,0CO 


17 


380 


1,521 
S 


42 


852 


72 

5,955 

10,899 
12,329 

2,798 

107 

1,252 

1,200 

6 


35 


76 


2S7 


330 
2,600 
1,000 

455 

53 

29 

2,011 
6 

51 

11 

72 

5,055 
10,899 
12,329 

2,796 

961- 

1,252 

1,200 

6 

29 
2S7 

35 
501 


Note.— Casks  contain  800  pounds  net;   barrels,  20O  pounds  net. 


132 


REPORT  OF  Tlip:  FISII  AND  GAME  COMMISSION. 


CANNED,     CURED     AND      MANUFACTURED     FISHERY     PRODUCTS     OF     CALL 
FORNIA    FOR    THE    YEAR    1918— Continued. 

Compiled  by  Department  of  Commercial  Fisheries. 
MisccUaneoxis  Pack  and  General  Information. 


.  San  Diego 


San  Pedro 


Northern 
California 


Totals 


Albacore— 

Smoked,  pounds  

Kingfish — 

Dried,  pounds  

Sardines- 
Dried,  pounds  

Scotch,  cured,  pounds. 
Yellowtail— 

Smoked,  pounds   

Fertilizer,  tons  

Fish  meal,  tons 

Fish   oil,   gallons 

Number  of   plants 

Number  of   employees 

Value  of  plants 


1,123 

17,400 

13 

1,427 

$1,316,000 


31,420 

19,000 

37,000 
4,630 


1,000 
1,521 
3,216 

67,858 

34 

2,783 

$2,773,660 


I 


2,874 

251,468 

40 

3,829 

$1,569,330 


31,420 

19,000 

S7,000 
4,620 

1,000 

1,521 

7,213 

346,724 

87 

8,039 

$5,658,990 


REPORT  OF  THE  FISH  AM)  (JAME  COMMISSION. 


133 


CANNED,     CURED     AND      MANUFACTURED     FISHERY     PRODUCTS     OF     CALL 

FORNIA    FOR    THE    YEAR    1919. 


Compiled   by   Department  of   Commercial   Fisheries. 
I'ifili  (.'unncil. 


Spocles  of  flsh 

SI/.0  of  cniis 

San 

I  >leK() 

district. 

fU.SCS 

Sail 

Pedro 

di^lrlrt. 

ca.sfs 

.Muiilerey 

Mny 
dlstrii't. 

CU.SC3 

Northern 

Calironila 

district. 

canes 

Total 
cates 

Mb 

lOo 

21,236 

107,822 

2,S73 

''  978 

l-lb 

5,862 

37,855 

4,1.52 

184 

27,098 
145  677 

J-lb 

i-lb 

J-11) 

15,325 

32 

8 

2,177 

34,634 

17,10-* 

395 

374 

19,477 

216 

g 

Anchovy 

Barraciuln  

Mb 

Uoiiiti)  

Mb 

12 

4963 

2S7 

2,188 
30.509 
IT,. 395 

i-lb 

i-lb 

Vlb 

Caviar .- ' 

305 

374 

i'8,236 

l,.5)-9 

2,051 

6  301 

Herring — 

3-oz 

l-lb    oval 

28  238 
1,589 

.Vlb.   oval... 

Maikorel - — 

l-lb 

63 

17 

1,995 
6.344 

!)S8 
10 

J-lb .. 

~~""~"~~~~ 

i-lb.. 

0^ 

Kotk   bass  .. 

'-lb 

10 

X 

l-lb.  oval 

102 

725 

1,341 

9,086 

1S63r 

7,842 

l-lb.  tall 

1,941 

0  CS6 

l-lb.  flat 

^-Ib.   flat.... 

]  <  'J  ;7 

Sartlines   

1-lh.   oval— 
l-lb.  round  . 
Mb.  tall-.-. 

33,594 

113,909 
11,875- 

790,724 

945,06') 
11  S75 

7,318 

7  318 

i-lb.  oval... 
|-lb.  square. 
5-lb.  round  . 
J-lb.  rotnid  . 
I-Ib.  sQuare. 
Mb 

3,878 

9,-543 

405 

10 

39,603 

27,713 
17,510 
25,742 
3.21J; 
31,553 

n,9G0 

7,207 

128 

43,551 

,34  260 
26  275 

3.223 

7,789 

78,945 

Shad      --    

4,350 
1,131 

Shad  ro"-' 

?.-Ib.  oval... 

1 

1,131 

Skipjack   (striped  tuna)    -    .. 

l-lb 

Vlb. 

3,199 

38,229 

2,460 

750 
28,849 
11,351 

3,869 

67,078 

Mb 

l-lb 

13.811 

Snuid 

3,.538 

Tuna    -- 

4-Ib. 

1,905 

33,524 

291,453 

119,980 

3!;0 
8.739 



Mb 

J-lb 

1,170 

14,5,55 

2,785 

7,407 

12 

19,291 

5 

34, 6M 

0O6.OOS 

J-lb..        

12'',765 

Turtle  — 



7  407 

rellowtail    

l-lh 

362 
28,030 

S-lb 

Mb — 

— 

5 

Total  cases  canned ... 

229,463 

933  939 

821,448 

83,758 

2,071,641 

134 


REPORT  OF  THE  FISH  AND  GAME  COMMISSION. 


Dried,  Salted,  Smokr:l  <n}il  Miscellaneous. 


Species  of  fish,   size  or  quantity 


Siin   nicgo  San   Pedro 
district         district 


Monterey 
district 


Nortliern 

California 

district 


Albacore  bellies,  smoked,  lbs..>. 

Anchovy,  salted,  lbs 

Anchovy,  salted,  5-lb.  cans,  24  cans  to  case- 
Anchovy,  salted,  5-lb.  cans,  12  cans  to  case. 
iUichovy,  salted,  24-lb.  cans,  6  cans  to  case. 
Anchovy,  salted,  12-lb.  cans,  S  cans  to  case. 
Anchovy,  salted,  li-lb.  cans,  24  cans  to  case. 
Anchovy,  salted,  2i-lb.  cans,  12  cans  to  case. 

Barraciidii,   dried,  lbs 

Barracuda,  smoked,  lbs 

Bonito,  salted,   lbs 

Bonito,    smoked,   lbs 

Cuttle  lisli,  pickled,  lbs 

Herring,   t^rnoked,   lbs 

Herring,  sugar  cured,  lbs 

Mackerel,  salted,  lbs 

Miscellaneous  flsli,  dried,  lbs 

Miscellaneous  fish,  salted,  lbs 

Rollmops,  10-lb.  pails 

Sablefish,   salted,  lbs 

Sablcfish,    smoked,   lbs 

Salaehini,  100-lb.  tubs 

Salachini,    G3-lb.  tubs 

Salaehini,    45-lb.  tubs 

Salachini,    30-lb.  tubs— 

Salmon,  mild  cured,  casks* 

Salmon,  hard  salted,  casks* 

Sardines,    dried,   lbs 

Sardines,   salted,   lbs 

Sardines,  smoked  lbs 

Sardines,  salted,  2J-lb.  cans,  12  cans  to  case. 
Sardines,  salted,  3-lb.  cans,  24  cans  to  case. 
Sardines,  salted,  5-lb.  cans,  24  cans  to  case- 
Sardines,  salted,  12-lb.  cans,  8  cans  to  case. 
Sardines,  salted,  24-lb.  cans,    4  cans  to  case. 

Sardines,  salted,  34-lb.  kegs 

Sea  bass  (black),  dried,  lbs .. 

Skip.1ack,    smoked,   lbs 

Squid,  dried,  lbs 

Tuna,   smoked,  lbs 

Yellowtail,  smoked,  lbs 

Fish  meal,  tons 

Fish,   oil,   gallons 

Number   of   plants 

Number   of   employees 

Estimated  value  of  pack 

Value  of  plants 


4.3SS 
63,150 


242.576 
243 
367 
119 
216 

■      200 


67,102 


1.800 


2,000 
63.760 
31.003 

3.800 


51,037 
20.000 


24,842 
46,479 
59.079 


15.000 


740 


100 
14  ,.370 

987 
4,020 
1,044 


43,962 


15,000 
260,500 


4,000 
6,007 


26,830 


1,674 
26,791 

15 
1,191 

f2,599,852 
1,100,700 


200 
573 
739 
450 
1,600 


2,601 


10,180 

45,933 

5,637 

146,298 

35 

3,928 

$9,694,482 

4,335,657 


688,159 


3,331 

300,833 

28 

2,218 

$5,990,568 

1,368,189 


24,448 


1,000 
1.450 


1,142 
7.519 
5.400 


1.362 
358 

4,153 
30 


2,200 


481 

40,340 

21 

905 

;,132,843 

906,325 


Total 


4,358 

330,174 

243 

367 

119 

216 

200 

1.800 

67.102 

2,000 

6«,760 

31,003 

3.800 

1,000 

1,450 

24,842 

112,516 

79,079 

1,142 

7,519 

5,400 

ino 

16,472 

1,345 

4,020 

5,197 

30 

15,000 

304,482 

2,200 

4.0C0 

6.207 

573 

739 

450 

1 ,600 

26,830 

2,61)1 

6S6,159 

10,180 

45,933 

11,153 

514,262 

99 

8,242 

$21,417,743 

7,708,871 


*Caskg  contain  800  pounds  net. 


REPORT  OP  THE  FISH  AND  GAME  COMMISSION. 


135 


SEIZURES   OF    FISH,   GAME    AND    ILLEGALLY    USED    FISHING   APPARATUS. 

July  1,  1918,  to  June  30,  1920. 

Uahbits   (cottontail  and  brush) 14'.) 

iinail    — 19-1 

I  »()V('s 37 

Wild  pigeon    1^ 

1  )ucks 2,8^(1 

(Jniv  goese IT 

Siijii-   lions  14 

Pheasants    - 

Shori"  hirds   71 

Nou-iramo  birds l-J 

Mist'i'llancous  game l-">~ 

Deer  meat 4,(X')!)i   pounds 

Deer  hides  and  heads 30 

lieaver  skins  4 

Mink   skins   3 

Aii;rettes    5!) 

*Illci;allv  used  fishing  apparatus,  nets,  lines,  etc 73 

Salmon 17,3::i8j  pounds 

'l^i-out   2,208     pounds 

Striped  bass   9,008     pounds 

lUack    bass    -^Gj  pounds 

Halibut    22,8l2i  i)Ounds 

Harracuda 8,13G     pounds 

Catfish    278     poun(*s 

Yellow  fin  croaker 23,600     pounds 

Sturgeon    2491  pounds 

Miscellaneous   fish   03     pounds 

Abalones    2,727 

Abalones   (dried)   1,1.">7     pounds 

Abalones   (canned)    150     cases 

Crabs   ; : 4,884 

Lobsters     7,153 

Lobsters    (driedt        131     pounds 

Clams    (Pismo)    4,811 

''lams    f cockle)    3.092     pounds-- 

Dried  shrimps  and  shells 5,700     pounds 

*73  nets,  lines,  etc.,  represent  about  3,097  fathoms  or  22,182  feet. 

Illegally  used  fishing  apparatus,  after  condemnation  in  superior  courts,  is  destroyed 
or  sold  by  the  lioard  in  accordance  with  law.  All  wholesome  fish  and  game  is  donated 
to  public  and  charitable  institutions,  from  whom  many  grateful  letters  of  acknowl- 
edgment have  been  received. 

During  the  period  from  July  1,  1918,  to  June  30,  1920,  67  searches  for  illegal  fish 
and  game  were  made  by  deputies. 


13(3 


RF.roiJT  OF  TlIK  FISH    AND  (!.\-ME  COMMISSION. 


LION     BOUNTIES. 

Statement    of    Lion    Bounties    paid    by    the    Fish    and    Game    Commission    from 
January    1,    1918,    to    December   1,    1919. 


County 


Alameda   .. 

Alpine    

Amador    — 

Butto    

Calaveras 

Colusa   

Del  Norte 
Kl  Dorado 
Fresno     .— 

Glenn    

Humboldt 
Imperial    -. 
Inyo    


Kern    

King    

Lake    

Lassen   

Los  Angeles 

afadera    

Mariposa    -- 
Mendocino    -. 

Merced    

Modoc    

Monterey    __. 

Mono    

Napa    

Nevada    

Orange  

Placer    

Plumas    


Riverside    

Sacramento    

San   Benito   

San  Bernardino   . 

San  Diego  

San  Jcaquin 

San  Luis  Obispo 

San  Mateo  

Santa    Barbara    . 

Santa   Clara  

Santa  Cruz  

Shasta   

Sierra    

Siskiyou    

Sonoma  

Stanii-laus    

Sutter   

Tehama    

Trinity    

Ttilaro     

'I\iolumne    

Ventura   

Tuba    - 

Totals  


1918 


3 

2 
1 
3 
3 
22 


1919 


10 


11 


8 

5 

12 

18 


1 
12 


26 

1 
2 

1 


12 

11 

9 

2 


214 


Total  from 

Oct.  luur. 


1 

15 


9 
1 
9 
1 
5 


19 


19 
2 
1 

30 


1 
1 
1 
3 

14 

17 

12 

2 

1 

243 


1 

1 

9 

33 

13 

17 

97 

48 

22 

43 

S64 

1 

7 

134 

1 

106 

7 

49 

39 

77 

219 

1 

4 

105 

7 

3 

7 

9 

.37 

9 

29 

1 

33 

23 

41 

2 

76 

1 

99 

19 

2 

261 

6 

241 

22 

9 

2 

1H9 

260 

95 

75 

40 

4 

3,17b 


RElMtKT  (IK  TlIK  KISII    AND  (JAMIO  ('(i.M  M  FSSION. 


]■> 


)  I 


SUMMARY   OF   PROSECUTIONS   FOR   VIOLATIONS  OF   STATE   FISH    LAWS. 

July  1,  1918.  to  June  30,  1920. 


OlYciise 


Fi.sliing  (inarki't)  witliout  licoiise. 

Fi>:hins   (iinpliiig)    without   Hcodsp 

Illegal     flshiiif?     apparatus      (nets,     lines, 

spi'iirs,  etc.)   

Salmon— takinpr  and  possession;  closed  sea- 
son:  e.\c'e.«s  limit.  Sat.,  Sun.— fishing 

Striped    bass— closed    season,    buying    and 

selling:    underweight:    excess  limit 

Black  bass— taking  and  po.sscssion;   closed 

.'ipason:  undersized;  excess  limit 

Tiout— closed  season;   excess  limit;   taking 
other   than    by    hook    and   line;    offering 

for  sale;   shipping  parcel  post 

Catfish— undersized;      ofl'ering      for      sale, 

closed   season   .. 

Sturgeon— taking  or  possession 

Sunri.tli— taking   or   possession,    closed   sea- 
son   .. 

Perch— Sacramento    and    Salt   Water,    pos- 
session;   sale,    shipment;    closed    season; 

excess  limit  

Halibut — underweight,   possession   and  sale. 
Barracuda — underweight,     possession     and 

sale   

Salt  Water  Eels— taking  undersized 

Taking  fish  from  pond 

Using  explosives  to  take  fish 

Polluting  waters— oil,  sawdust,  etc 

Fishing  with  nets  in  restricted  districts 

Selling  young  fish  for  bait 

Failing  to  maintain  screen 

Crabs— closed  season,  undersized,  female 

Clam.s— excess   limit,   undersized 

Abalones — closed  season,  undersized,  excess 

limit,  drying 

Crawfl.sh— closed  season,  under  or  oversize.. 

California  dried  shrimp  and  shells 

*Seining  within  1  mile  of  Los  Angeles  City 
sewer 

Total  fish  cases 


72 
102 

9 

20 

49 
12 


S 

14 

1 

2 

2 

4 

5 

44 

1 

1 

31 

45 

163 
43 
20 

3 


716 


(A   C 

3  5 


72 
92 

6 

17 

43 

12 


0  9 


.!_ 


=.? 


61       50 


3 

13 


2 
2 
3 
3 
33 
1 
1 

27 
45 

153 
39 
18 

3 


647 


10 
3 
2 
6 


57 


12 


I 
3  '  100 

I 

8    


4    


a. 


$870  DC  I 
2,030  00 

i 

300  00 
1,200  00  ' 
1,150  00 

400  00 


13 
1 

3 
2 


59 


52 


15 


80  00 
40  00  ; 


50  00 
405  00 


120  00 

40  00 

400  00 

400  00 

3,860  00 

20  00 

20  00 

245  00 

1,155  00 

3,460  00 
871  00 
280  00 

300  00 


199      $19,818  00 


$860  00 
1,880  00 

300  00 

9£C  to 

1,150  CO 

400  CO 


1,485  00  I       1,460  00 


SO  00 
40  00 


50  CO 
305  00 


120  OO 

40  00 

92  50 

400  00 

3,506  00 

20  00 

20  00 

245  00 

1,109  00 

3,0-25  00 
661  00 
2S0  00 

300  00 


$17,323  50 


•Paid  into  Los  Angeles  County  treasury. 


138 


REPORT  OF  THE  FISH  AND  GAME  COMMISSION. 


SUMMARY   OF   PROSECUTIONS    FOR   VIOLATIONS   OF   STATE    GAME    LAWS. 

July  1,  1918,  to  June  30,  1920. 


Offense 


Violations— hunting  license  law 

Deer— killing,  pursuing,  posses.sion,  closed 
season;  excess  bag  limit.  Hides— female; 
evidence  of  sex  removed;  not  properly 
tagged:  failure  to  retain  portion  of  head 

bearing  horns  

Female  deer  and  fawns— killing  and  pos- 
session   

Spike  bucks— killing  and  possession 

Ducks— kiUing  and  possession,  closed  season 

Ducks — excess;   bag  limit 

Ducks— night     shooting;      shooting      from 

power  boat   in   motion 

Quail— killing  and  possession,  closed  sea- 
son;   excess   bag  limit 

Quail— trapping    or    holding    in    captivity 

without   permit   

Doves— killing  or  possession;  closed  season; 

excess   bag  limit 

Snipe,  curlew,  rail,  plover  and  other  shore 

birds — killing  and  possession 

Pheasants— killing   and  possession 

Grouse,    sage-hen— killing    and    possession, 

closed  season;  excess  bag  limit 

Wild  pigeons— killing  and  possesion,  closed 

season   

Non-game  birds— kilhng  and  possession 

Cottontail    and    brush   rabbits— killing    and 

possession,  closed  season;  excess  bag  limit. 

Tree  squirrels— killing  and  possession,  closed 

season;  excess  bag  limit 

Wild   geese— killing   and   possession,   closed 

season;   excess  bag  limit 

Mountain  sheep- killing  and  possession 

Swan— killing    and   possession 

Beaver — killing  and  possession 

Trapping  license  law   violations 

Trespassing  in  game  refuge 


Total    game   cases. 


2V2 


187 

73 
42 
41 


101 


94 


44 

58 
7 


13 
107 

49 


1 

2 

18 

2 

20 
18 


ad 


M  Q. 

■    B 

o. 


1,175 


255 


149 

51 

37 

38 

8 

88 

93 

4 

40 

57 
6 


13 

104 

47 

5 

1 
1 

17 
2 

18 
18 


17 


30 

20 
5 
2 


1,060 


=  5. 


—  c 
33 


B  c. 


93 


22 


7  78 

1  5 

2 

1  20 


8    

i 
7  ' 


12 


10 


125 


$4,497  00 


ft,510  00 

3,592  00 
1.870  00  ! 
1,140  00  i 
600  00 

2,330  00 

2,705  00 

160  00  ! 

825  00 

1,270  00 
220  00 

215  00  I 

205  OD 
1,741  00 

1,025  00 

50  00 

25  00 
30  00 
510  00 
125  00 
145  OO 
365  00 


$30,245  00 


$4,472  00 


5,982  00 

3,202  00 

1,870  00 

1,120  00 

60O  00 

2,305  00 

2,602  50 

160  00 

805  00 

1,245  00 
220  00 

215  00 

295  00    i 
1,741  00 

975  00 

50  00 

25  00 

30  00 

510  00 
125  00 
1,35  00 
36i  00 


$29,049  50 


REPORT  OF  THE  FISH  AND  GAME  COMMISSION.  1:}*J 


TOTAL   ARRESTS    FOR   A    PERIOD   OF    EIGHTEEN    YEARS. 

1002-lf>(>4   5.-0 

1!>(>i-l!)0G   774 

1!)0(!-in08   l.T.t.' 

r.tOS-IDlO    .  1.771 

ll>ltl-l!)12 --'.M'-,:; 

ini2-ir)i4  i.itii:: 

i;ti  i-i!»i(;    ii,os7 

i;>i(;-i!)]S 1.707. 

1918-1020  i.sm 

Total   ]4.n^ 


RECAPITULATION. 
Arrests : 

Fish    cas?s    710 

Game   cases   1,175 

Total    1,S01 

Convictions : 

Fish    ca.>-es    (!47 

Game   cases    1,000 

—        1.707 

Acquittals  and  dismissals : 

Fi.sh    cases    57 

Gamo   casps   93 

150 

Tend  ins  cases : 

Fish   cases   12 

Game   cases   22 

34 

Total     1,891 

Fines  Imposed : 

Fish    cases    $19,181  00 

Game  cases 30,245  GO 

Total    $49,426  0!) 

Fines  collected : 

Fish  cases $17,323  50 

Game  cases 29,049  50 

Total    $40,37.".  00 

Nuinhor  of  days   imprisonment: 

Fish  cases IJJO 

Game  cases 125 

Total    324 


140 


REPORT  OF  THE  FISH  Axo  GAME  ro^r:\rrssTox. 


HUNTERS'    LICENSE   SALES. 


County 


Fiscal  year 
1919 


Fiscal  yes 
1!120 


AlaiiKHla  

Alpine    

Amador 

Butte 

Calaveras 

Colusa  

Contra    Costa    

Del    Norte   

El    Dorado    

Fresno   

Glenn   

Humboldt    

Imp'jn'al  

Inyo 

Kern   

Kings    

Lake  

Lassen  

Los  Angeles  

Madera   

Mariposa   

Mendocino   

Merced   

Mono   

Monterey    

Napa  

Nevada    

Orange    

Placer    

Plumas    

Riverside    

Sacramento    

San   Benito  

San   Bernardino  

San  Diego  

San   Joaquin   

San    Luis    Obispo 

San   Mateo   

Santa    Clara   

Santa   Cruz  

Shasta  

Sierra   

Siskiyou    

Solano   

Sonoma    

Stanislaus 

Sutter    

Tehama 

Trinity     

Tulare   

Tuolumne    

Ventura  

Yolo   

Yuba     

Los    Angeles    offlce.— 

Sacramento  office 

San     Francisco    offlce 

Total  sales   


>i,737  OO 

$10,588  GO 

tiT  00 

108  00 

1,078  01) 

1,216  00 

2,847  00 

4,343  00 

1,220  (XI 

1,308  00 

1,S2S  00 

2,515  00 

2,147  00 

1,288  00 

276  00 

340  00 

698  00 

56S  OO 

8,856  00 

10,18S  00 

788  OO 

1,023  CO 

3,9&4  00 

5,023  CO 

570  CO 

532  CO 

1,062  00 

1,300  00 

2,65,S  00 

3.180  CO 

1,742  00 

1,836  00 

631  00 

919  00 

1,219  00 

1,005  00 

2,694  00 

37  00 

948  00 

1,217  00 

20)  00 

221  0(» 

2,799  OO 

4,117  00 

2,314  00 

2,725  00 

143  OC 

158  00 

1  218  01 

1,701  CO 

2,418  0( 

2,967  00 

980  0( 

1,112  00 

1,854  0 

1,633  00 

1,732  0 

2,479  CO 

944  0 

1,270  00 

886  00 

1,017  00 

780  OI' 

S29  00 

933  00 

1,145  00 

481  00 

4,")0  CO 

4,934  00 

4,445  00 

803  OO 

889  00 

1,324  OO 

1,559  00 

1,908  00 

120  00 

5,186  00 

6,482  00 

380  00 

6"i2  CO 

1,870  00 

2,343  OO 

173  00 

247  00 

3,S5S  OO 

4,934  CO 

3.026  00 

3  813  00 

5,719  00 

7,3'0  00 

3,041  00 

3,6'')6  00 

633  00 

808  00 

1,341  00 

546  00 

649  00 

975  00 

3,808  00 

4,962  00 

1,010  00 

1,762  OO 

738  00 

2,580  00 

1,973  00 

2,350  00 

1,441  00 

1,885  00 

$105,587  00 

38,417  00 

5,388  00 

31,545  CO 


$123,253  00 

45,650  00 

7,421  00 

45,099  00 


78,937  00        $221,433  00 


Fiscal  year  ends  June  30.    Residents,  $1;  nonresidents,  $10;  aliens, 


HKI'OHT  OK  'IMIK   I'ISII    WD  (lAMK  COMMISSION. 


141 


ANGLERS'    LICENSE    SALES. 


County 


.4lani?da  . 
A'pino  ... 
Amnrior    . 

Hiitt"    

Calaveras 
Colii.sa  --- 


Contra  Costa 

Fh'l  .Nortp 

Kl    I>ora(1o    ... 

Fri'.xiio    

<;U'iin     - - 

Hiiiiil)nldt    

Iriip 'rial    

Iiivo    


K'TIl    

Kiiifis    

Lak?  

l.a.'^s^n  

I. OS  .Angeles  

Madsra    

Maripo-'^a   

Mendoeino  

Merced   

Mono   

Monterey    _ 

Napa 

Nevada    

Orange  

Placer  

Pliiina.* 

Riverside    

SacraiiiTito 

San    Benito    

San    Uornardino    . 

San    r)i°Ko    

San  Joaquin 

San    Lui.s    Obispo. 

San  Mateo 

Santa    Clara   

Santa  Cruz 

Shasta  

Sierra  

Siskiyou 

Solano   

Sonoma    

Stanislau.s    

SnttT    

Tehama 

Trinity    

Tulare   

Tuolumne    

Ventura    

Volo    

Yuba    


Los    Angeles    office 

Sacramento    office 

San    Francisco   office. 


Total    sales 


$4,135  Of) 
I  OS  (10 
673  00 

2,253  0() 
108  00 
403  GO 
S31  00 
140  00 
670  00 

7,372  00 
210  00 

4,038  00 
305  00 

1,749  00 
486  OO 
879  00 
426  00 

1,250  00 

2,«S6  00 
561  00 
12!7  00 

2,M6  00 
977  00 
509  00 
705  00 
695  00 
952  00 
780  00 

1,180  00 

1,719  00 
325  00 
456  00 
265  00 
374  00 

1,965  00 
623  00 

1,057  00 
605  00 

2,226  00 

329  on 

1,831  00 

383  00 

3,306  00 

1,603  00 

2,985  00 

1,737  00 

260  00 

9O0  00 

313  00 

3,321  00 

1,196  03 

589  00 

575  00 

651  00 


$67,735  00 

26,556  00 

5.263  00 

23,526  00 


$123,080  00 


$">.r/J4  00 
214  Oi. 
770  00 

3,105  00 
875  00 
730  00 
351  CO 
185  OO 
578  00 

8,0(5Z  00 
351  00 

4,601  00 
313  00 

1,783  00 
707  00 
981  00 
394  00 

1,420  00 

791  00 

102  00 

2,3-20  00 

86^  00 

587  00 

608  00 

1.531  00 

1,087  00 

811  00 

1,739  00 

2,053  00 

400  OO 

698  00 

297  00 

515  00 

2,119  00 

582  00 

860  00 

52  00 

3,722  00 

351  OO 

2,119  00 

373  00 

3,825  00 

2,3-29  00 

3.477  OO 

2,3S-  00 

310  00 

303  00 

496  00 

4  O.-jO  00 

1,315  00 

2,196  00 

738  00 

784  00 


$78,209  00 

30,963  00 

7,171  00 

30,381  00 


$146,724  00 


Fiscal  year  ends  December  31.    Residents,  $1;   nonresidents   and   aliens,  $3. 


142 


REPORT  OF  THE  FISH  AND  GAME  COMMISSION. 


COMMERCIAL  FISHERIES'  LICENSE  SALES,  BY  DISTRICTS. 


1918-1919 


1919-1920 


1 
1 


Del  Norto  and  Humboldt.. - 
Mendocino,  Sonoma,  Lake. 
Marin    


Solano    and    Yolo 

Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin 

Glenn,  Tehama  and  Colusa 

Contra   Costa  and  Alameda -- 

San   Francisco   

Santa   Cruz  

Monterey  

San   Luis  Obispo  and  Santa  Barbara- 
Los   Angeles 

Orange   

San  Diego  

Miscellaneous  


307 
114 
72 
245 
229 


Totals 


291 
459 

72 

528 

120 

1,382 

46 
486 
171 


4,522 


$3,070  00 

1,140  00 

720  00 

2,450  00 

2,290  00 


2,910  00 
4,590  00 

720  00 

5,280  OO 

1,200  00 

13,820  00 

460  00 
4,860  00 
1,710  00 


322 
155 

«7 
269 
207 

6S 
381 
393 

87 

607 

113 

1,^9 

44 
581 
134 


$3,220 
1,550 

670 
2,690 
2,070 

680 
3,810 
3,930 

870 

6,070 

1,130 

16,590 

440 
5,810 
1,340 


00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
OO 
00 
OO 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 


$15,220  00  ;     5,087  l       $50,870  00 


Fiscal  year  ends  March  31.    Residents,  nonresidents   and  aliens,  $10. 


TRAPPERS'    LICENSE      SALES. 
'I'otal  .sales  for  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1920 -.- 


$4,971  00 


4 


I 


nKi'oirr  op  tifk  kistt  axd  game  commission.  143 

STATEMENT  OF    EXPENDITURES   FOR   THE    FISCAL  YEAR    1918-1919. 

General    Administration. 

('((MiiiiiHsioiiii's'  tniM'liiix  iuul  oilier  cxpense.s $920  85 

Salaries  of  adiuiiiistnitive  assistants _ li;,84.S  13 

Traveling;  expenses  of  administrative  assistants 1,471  ."53 

(leiieral  expenses  and  supplies 4,03<j  42 

Ivinipineiit 83  03 

ii;23,:{r)0  70 

Research,   Publicity   and    Education. 

Salaries    ."f^.r.lK  r.(t 

Traveling  expenses    208  00. 

(Jeiieral  exi)enses  and    sup'plies 621  04 

Ennipment 21  30 

3,458  84 

Subtotal     -, .1:20.818  60 

General    Fish  and   Game   Patrol. 

San  Francisco  Division. 

Salaries   $47,642  80 

Traveling:   expenses   23,630  2!) 

(Jeneral  expenses  and  supplies 2,193  44 

Equipment    146  50 

$73,622  03 

Sacramento  Division. 

Salaries   $32,225  05 

Traveling  expenses    15,724  30 

General  expenses  and  supplies 1,670  25 

Equipment     86  53 

— 49,706  13 

Los  Angeles  Division. 

Salaries    $17,966  64 

Traveling  expenses    8,861  39 

General  expenses  and  supplies 2,086  23 

28,914  26 

Miscellaneous  Fish  and  Game  Fxpcnditurcs. 

Printing     $2,821  08 

Afcident  and  death  claims 1,711  02 

4.532  10 

Subtotal     150.774  52 

$183,593  12 

.apportionment  to  game  expenditures $110,155  87 

Apportionment  to  fish  expenditures 73,437  25 

■ $183,593  12 

Special    Fishery    Expenditures. 

I-'isiK  ri.TiKi;. 

.  1  (liuinixtrdtion- — 1>(  fiin  lim  )il  (ij  Fifihi'iiltiirr. 

Salaries    $7,847  07 

Traveling  expenses    2.674   14 

General   exjienses  and   supplies 1.349  10 

Equipment     134  25 

.  $12,005  k; 


ifr-TS";? 


144  REPORT  OF  THE  FISH  AND  GAME  COMMISSION. 

Mount  Shasta  Hatchery. 

General    operating   expenses — trout $27,657  77 

General    operating   expenses — salmon 4,05G  3G 

Upkeeii-  and  repairs 1,507  OG  j 

Constriietion  and  improvement _ 19  28  « 

Equipment 8,617  94 

41,918  41 

Klamath  tsiatioii. 

General  operating  expenses — trout .$3(>0  21 

General  operatinsj  expenses — salmon, .. 4,221  36 

Upkeep  and  repairs _ 

Construction  and  improvement 517  30 

Equipment    125  95 

5,221  S2 

Fall  Creek  Station. 

General    operating   expenses — trout $2,909  72 

General   operating  expenses — salmon 591  92 

Upkeep  and  repairs 

Construction  and  improvement _. 895  02 

Equipment    94  01 

4,490  67 

Mount  Whitney  Hatchet!/. 

General  operating  expenses — trout $12.2Ji  04 

Up'keep  and  repairs . 74  85 

Construction  and  improvement 6,824  67 

Equipment    497  22 

19,640  78    ^ 

Cottonwood  Creek  Station. 

General  operating  expenses — trout $G25  88 

Upkeep  and  repairs — _" 

Construction  and  improvement " 

Equipment    

625  88 

Cottontcood  Lakes  Station, 

General  operating   expenses— trout — 1 $436  03 

Upkeep  and  repairs 

Construction  and  impa-ovement 24  19 

Equipment    

460  22 

Tahoe  Hatchery. 

General  operating  expenses — trout $1,106  19 

Upkeep  and  repairs 

Construction  and  improvement 

Equipment    --' .'- _ 

— —  1.106  19 

Tullac  Hatchery. 

General  operating  expenses — trout $2,370  73 

Upkeep  and  repairs . 54  04 

Construction  and  improvement .. 16.5  81  J 

Equipm(uit 703  64  1 

3,294  22 


Chico  Experimental  Station. 

General  operating  expenses — trout 

Upkeep  and  repairs 

Construction  and  improvement 250  OO 

Equipment 

. 250  00 


i 


REPORT  OF  THE  FISH  AND  UAMP:  COMMISSION.  145 

Fort  Scivatd   lltitcJK  ii/. 

General  operating  expenses — trout $1,303  73 

General   operating   expenses — salmon 1,523  81 

Upkeep  and  repairs -56  55 

fonstructiou   and    iiiipri)voniont _.  !)  50 

iMluipment    


Eel  River  Station. 

General  operating  expenses — trout $30  00 

General   operating   expenses — salmon 2,012  12 

T'pki'cp  and  repairs 

Coustruction   and  improvement 

Equipment    


TJkiah  Hatchery. 

(Jeneral  operating  expenses — trout $1,445  GO 

I^pkeep  and  repairs 23  70 

Construction   and  improvement 

Kqiripment    . 


Snow  Mountain  Station. 

General  operating  expenses — trout $1,4S1  10 

t'lik-^ep  and  repairs 38  02 

Construction  and  improvement 

Equipment    


Brookdalc  Hatchery. 

Gf>neral  operating  expenses-trout $2,622  71 

Upkeep  and  repairs 698  53 

Construction  and  improvement 28  15 

Equipment    ., 5  90 


ScDit   Creek  Station. 

General  operating  expenses — trout $783  22 

T^pkeep  and  repairs 

Construction  and  improvement _^ 

Equipment 


Feather  River  Hatchery. 

General  operating  expenses — trout $171  24 

Upkeep  aud  repairs ^. _. __^^_^ _-^._ ,4  8a 

C'.iustruction  and  improvement ^__^,^^,__^_____^.^,_____ ,3  32 

I'quipmont     ^. -. , 


Almanor  Hatchery. 

General  operating  exp-enses — trout $1,548  56 

Upkeep  and   repairs  __. :— .— . ._-__--____--_--__-__ . 

Construction  and  imp.rovement______________.________ 

Kqi'.ipmont     ---- --■ -— -— 1- - 


Domingo  Springs  Hatchery. 

General  operating  expenses — trout : -. $1,530  43 

T'pkeep  and  I'epairs 16.3  22 

Const  motion  and  improvement-^ -1 ^__. !__!_  266  77 

E(iuipment     '. . '. I_lll_  8  (K) 


2,963  59 


2,042  12 


1,469  36 


1,519  12 


3,355  2;> 


783  22 


179  41 


1,548  56 


1,977  42 


146  REPORT  OF  THE  FTSII   AXD  GAME  COM^rrSS:IO^'. 


Clear  Creek  Hatchery. 

CJeiu'ial  operating  expenses — trout $220  32 

I'pki't'i)  and  repairs 

Construction  and  improvement 525  45 

Equipment 

745  77 

Bear  Lake  Hatchery. 

General  operatiuj;  expenses — trout $1,291  75 

T'pkeep  and  repairs 76  15  ' 

< 'oMstruetiou  and  improvement 369  50 

I^quipiniMit     214  45 

1,951  85 

North  Creek  Station. 

General  operating  expenses — trout $2,206  52 

Upkeep  and  repairs 

Construction  and  improvement 900  70 

Equipment    200  00 

3,367  22 

Waicoiia  Hatchery. 

General  operatinji'  expenses — trout $313  99 

Upkeep  and  repairs 35  00 

Construction  and  improvement 40  00 

Equipment     3  76 

392  75 

Yosemite  Hatchery. 

General  operating  expenses — trout $230  99 

Upkeep  and  repairs 

Construction  and  improvement 759  89 

E(iuipnient 7  48 

Constriiftion   (permanent) . 281  31 

Construction   (l>eiir.  of  P]nKineering- — not  included  in  total)-  .127  27 

•  1,279  (M 

Kaweah  Hatchery. 

General  operating  expenses — trout $247  81 

T'pkeei>  and  rep'airs 142  38 

Construction  and  improvement 

Equipment    

390  19 

Fish  Transplanting. 

Salaries 

Traveling  expenses 

General  expenses  and  supplies $37  56 

Equipment 

37  56 

Screens,  Fishvcays  and  Water  Pollution. 

Salaries $4,305  32 

Traveling  expenses   1,'813  94 

(Jeneral  expenses  and  supplies 318  89 

Equipment 

. 6,438  15 

Special  Field  Investigation. 

Salaries   $150  00 

Traveling  expenses 115  50 

General  expenses  and  supplies 

Equipment  and  repairs 

265  50 

Total  expenditures — Deparlmeni   dC   Fisliculture $119,723  10 


RETORT  OF  THE  FISH  AND  (JAME  COMMISSION".  147 

Commercial   Fishery  Expenditures. 

Administration. 

Salaries    ^M'-nn  -? 

Travclinj;-   expenses    7,'"'  .^  \\ 

(Jont'i-al  expenses  and  supplies "^"'^'l-  i} 

Equipment    «t^^      ^^g^^^^  ^., 

Northern  California  District. 

Salaries    '^-1}    *}], 

Tiavcliu«  expenses ^'^'•}  J'~ 

Ci'iicral  expenses  and  supplies -^  ^>^ 

iMluipment .ZHHZZZl  390  3;, 

l<ini    I' Id  IK  i.sra    Disfliil. 

Salaries   $2,530  00 

Tniv(>Iins  expenses 1 '|'  'J'' 

(Jeiieral  expenses  and  supplies I-'  -^ 

Iviuipinent ^^  °"          ^q^O  3'» 

Monterey  District. 

Salaries    $2,021  00 

Traveling   expenses   SSIj  1(^ 

(Joneral  expenses  and  supplies 514  !._> 

Equipment 8.J    o  ^-...,. 

<i,ol4  0.> 

»S^ffH  Pedro  District. 

Salaries    ?4,173  33 

Traveling  expenses ^]>2  -*-2 

(Jeneral  expenses  and  supplies G2i   bo 

Eouimnent  ^'*1  ^ 

l.quipmeni —  ^^30   63 

San  Diego  District. 

Salaries    ?1,^20  10 

Traveling  expenses -^--^  "Jj 

General  expenses  and  supplies 040   tb 

Equipment 0100  „,.._. 

2,444  oO 


$33,618  O." 

LaLrch   Patrol. 
Launch  "Quintiat."' 

Salaries    $3.<X>3  00 

Traveling  expenses  and  mess  allowance 941  00 

Repairs 2.631  39 

General    expenses    and    supplies ~1''  !•> 

Equipment ~  ••f*         „_  ^,  „ 

$7,290  09 

Launch  "Aliacore." 

Salaries    $3,235  25 

Traveling  expenses  and  mess  allowance 946  41 

llepairs    1J»>0  1)9 

General  expenses  and  supplies •'V-  I'*~ 

Equipment ■^2;'  24 

9,508  51; 

Launch  "Shad." 

Salaries    

Traveling  expanses  and  mess  allowance 

Repairs     ;*2n  40 

General  expenses  and  supplies 301  91 

Equipment ~  50  

338  81 


148  REPORT  OP  Tin-:  FISJJ   and  came  COM^riRSION.  . 

Launch  "Barracuda." 

Salaries   

Traveling;  expenses  and  mess  allowance 

Repairs - -_.__.-..—_. $178  20 

General  expenses  and  supplies .-.-_ — ■--. — -. — .- 212  59 

Equipment ^ ^_,^______ — __- — , 

390  79 

Launch  "Snhno:' 

Salaries ■.^^-__-^_ .^^ — ^^__ 

Traveling  expenses  and  mess  allowance 

Repairs    ^ — - 

General  expenses  and  supplies _ '^~*  ir» 

Equipment 2,300  00 

2,305  15 

Miscellaneous  Launch  Patrol. 

Salaries . ■ -■ 

Traveling  expenses  and  mess  allowance $20  00 

Repairs    86  45 

General  expenses  and  supplies 176  30 

Equipment ^„„  „.. 

282  75- 

$20,125  14 

Miscellaneous  Fishery  Expenditures. 

Printing — — $1-090  54 

Prosecutions  and  allowances  (fish  cases) . 690  69 

Lithosraphing  fishing  licenses ,  i^-^O  ^^ 

Angling  license  commissions  and  refunds :- 13.278  .M) 

Market  ii'^liing  license  commissions 815  00 

Crawfish  inspection 1,706  4.) 

Subtotal  fishery  expenditures $191,998  77 

SpeciaJ  Game   Expenditures. 

■  Ilayicard  Game  Farm. 

Salaries    — $631  19 

Traveling  expenses 

Rent   150  00 

General  expenses  and  supplies 1^  06 

Food  for  birds 252  74 

Construction  and  improvement 

Equipment "  --";"""        $1,157  91) 

Miscellaneous  Game  Expenditures. 

Printing — $476  69 

Prosecutions  and  allowances  (game) ^>Y4  ob 

Lithographing  hunting  licenses -,-ipn  «n 

Hunting  license  commissions  and  refunds A 'Inn  nl! 

Mountain   lion   bounties 6,100  01) 

Winter  game  feeding ; — 

Subtotal  game  expenditures $26,110  31^ 

Segregation:  a-o^- ^o^  no 

Total  of  all  fish  expenditures ^Tqp'wp  V. 

Total  of  all  game  expenditures — ____ 136,266  1.' 

Grand  total  of  all  expenditures — —    $401,702  21 


REPORT  OF  Tin:  FISH  AND  GAME  COMMISSION.  149 

FISH    AND  GAME   COMMISSION. 

Statement  of  Expenditures  for  the   Period   From  July   1,   1919,  to  June  30,  1920. 

Administration  : 

('oiniiiissionors    $1,672  70 

Kxt'ciilivc  offices 20,217  07 

I'rinliiiK Ji.^-4  84 

U.  siMicli    aud    publicity ^'^"^^  '^'^ 

Accident  ;iiid  dciitli  claims 2,705  I'J 

$39,510  .S4 

Commercial  fishcultiire  and  conservation  : 

Siii'erinlcudence $1:5,039  99 

Inspection  and  patrol 29,(U)3  ."m 

Kesfarch    1<S,122  OS 

Statislics   9,002  74 

Market  fishing  license  commissions 705  00 

Propairation  and  distribution  of  salmon 22,703  34 

$94,587  ;;:» 

Sporting  fishoulture  and  conservation  : 

Supoi-intendence  $14,510  34 

rrinting 1,909  94 

rroseciitions  aud  allowances _  <'i50  05 

Angling   license   commissions 15.. "124  20 

Special  field  investigation 252  '.\~> 

Fish  exhibits 7,20S  91 

General  patrol  (pro  rata  share)  : 

San  Francisco  District   (40  per  cent) 34, .545  05 

Los  Angeles  District   (40  per  cent) 14.148  00 

Sacrameuto  District  (40  per  cent) 27.30!  70 

Propagation  and  distribution  of  trout 121,102  29 

$236,900  SO 

Game  conservation  : 

Printing $.3.S79  17 

Prosecutions  and  allowances 1,225  3S 

Hunting   license  commission.s 21.1.31  21) 

Mountain  lion  hunting  (and  bounties) 6,950  23 

General  patrol   (pro  rata  share)  : 

San  Francisco  District   (00  per  cent) 51.580  75 

rx)s  Angeles  District  (60  per  cent) 21,222  05 

Sacramento  District   (60  per  cent) 40.956  OS 

$146,945  .V.\ 

Tahoe  camping  ground 3.152  9S 

Total  expenditures $521,157  47 


7?o7     T2-20    i\c>.' 


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