Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1874-11-11
AN MATTER.


Agent in Nevada. has been doing some
thing for which We are glad 10 give him
II will be remembered that du-
ring the last session Of the California
Legislature. . petition was sent over
from citizens Of Nevada asking that
owners Of saw mills upon the Truckee
River and ether streams running int
this State from California, Be prohibited
fren snptying thsir bark. chips, saw
dust and other refuse matter into the
strsans.l Il was alleged. with truth.
that this custom Vas fast destroying all
the trout in those rivers. by rendering
their watsrs 70 filthy that the fab could
not live therein. The model reform
Legislature Of our sister State received
the petition. and passed alav preventing
such nuisance in every stream in CAL
ifonia. save the Truekss River, which
was the objective point Of the petition
referred to. The result has been that
the lsng line Of saw-mills above Verdi,
on the Truekes, have been discharging
enormous quantities Of sawdust and
other refuse into the river. until there 10
danger that no trout will enter its waters
next Spring.
Mr.. Batsman has recently written .
letter to the Commissioner Of Indian
Affairs. at Warrington. calling attention
to this matter. and asking that some
measure Of relief Be adopted. The nui-
sancs being committed within the boun-
daries Of California, the Nevada Legis-
laturs is Powerless to prevent 1t. II
would seem. however. that the General
Government has jurisdiction. inasmueh
as ii seriously intsrfsres with its Indian
policy. by threatening the destruction OF
= large source Of svenus for support OF
the Indians Of Western Nevada. Fol-
lowing il Mr.. Batsman's letter:
There IL one matter I wish to call
the attention Of the Department to,
with the hope that IL necessary the at
tention Of Congress will DO secured, and
such legislation rs necessary to remedy
the evils. The fishery Of this reserva-
ton is one Of the most important ser
vices O support TO the Indians, and 1t is
in great danger Of being entirely de-
stroyed, and at o very early day. The
Pyramid Lake il brackish water, and at
present abounds with salmon trout, the
finest in the land. The Truekse river In
fresh water. and il the inlet to tho lake.
In the Spring time the trout run out Of
the salt water into the fresh to spawn,
and are thus perpstuatsd. This river
rises in Lake Tahoe. in the Sierra Ne
vada, and over the line Of Nevada in
California. The law OF the State Of
Nevada precludss tho obstruction Of the
rivers with sawdust or any other means
that will prevent the trout from running
up, but Just owe the line in California
there are numerous mills that discharge
their sawdust into the Truckee river.
During the last session Of the California
Legislature . petition was sent over
from citizens Of Nevada for the preven-
ton OF this nuisance. but strange to say
q law was passed preventing such a nui-
sancs in every California stream but the
Truckse river. and TINS the people Of
Nevada are powerless.
Now the result il that tho immense
quantities Of sawdust sent down the
river reached the mouth and filed
in to that degree that but little water
nov finds its way TO the Pyramid Lake.
but. being damned up at its mouth,
backs mp and 10 forced into the slough
or inlet to Mud or winnsmucca Lake.
Large bars OF sawdust have been piled
up across the mouth Of the river In Pyr-
amid Lake. forming q complete obstruc-
ton not only TO the water passing in,
but precluding the fish from getting out
to spawn, etc.
This is q calamity which. II not abat-
ell at once. will prove the early and
complete destruction Of the fishery.
have called the attention OF His En-
csllency, Governor Bradley. Of this State,
to the fact, and trust the united efforts
Of himself and the General Government
may prove efficient 10 the protection OF
this most important source OF subsis-
tsnce TO the Indians and luxury TO the
whites.
respectfully submit that what Is done
in the premises must be done quickly.
A. the deposits OF one year more. like
the last. will place the thing beyond re-
dsmption; even now for some cause,
which 10 attributed wholly TO the saw
dust, by parties protesting to know. the
shores Of the lake are strcvn with dead
fish. II will Be useless TO attempt to
drsdgs the mouth Of the river. unless
there il q stop put to moro coming
down. And I trust that the attention
nesdful to abating this dire calamity will
be Immediately given"
We concur with the Reno Journal,
which, in copying the above letter, says:
"Mr. Batsman is deserving OF thanks
for the interest he has shswn in this
throughout, and for calling the
attention Of the proper Department to
il. There ought to be something done
in the promises at the coming session Of
Congress. and w hope the Nevada del
sgation will give the subject their per-
sonal attention" BY the passage Of q
memorial and resolution the
attention Of Congress can Be called d.
rsctly to thi. subject, and such action
DO had ~ will prevent the total dsstruc-
ton Of the finest trout found in the
waters Of the "'Great Basin" We hope
our Legislature will attend to this mat
ter, and in furthsrancs thereof shan
---.- A. A.. .,h;.~k .hac