Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-11-17
THE FISH COMMISSION.
INTERVIEW WITH COMMISSIONERS
BUCKINGHAM AND DIBBLE.
What They Have to Say About Red
ding's Charges-The Hat
Creek Hatchery.


seat.
Mr.. Buckingham suppose you have
read the charges preferred by Mr.. Redding.
If you have not, here is a certified copy,
which you can read. He charges that
appropriated 500 that belonged to the
Commission. If my memory serves me,
you were present at a full meeting of this
Board when that matter was brought up,
and fully explained to Mr.. Redding's en-
tire satisfaction. The check was received
and cashed by me-paid upon my own
account-and deducted from the bill
afterwards presented to the Board of Ex-
aminers. was approved by them and is now
on file in the Controllers Office. Mr.. Red
ding knew all about it, and his statements
regarding it are maliciously false. AT the
meeting referred to it was all talked over
and was as straight business transaction
as there could possibly be, as the report of
the Treasurer shows. Ny bill shows a
credit of 800, and the Controller drew a
warrant for the balance. Those bills were
incurred by me in my endeavor 10 further
the interests Of the Commission. l will
say right here that Redd1ng knows but
little about our efforts in that direction
Kid-gloved gentlemen don't pull boats
eight and ten miles OF dark nights to cap
ture Greek and Chinese illicit fishermen
There is nothing about our actions that we
desire to conceal, but, on the contrary, we
court an investigation.
Mr. Dibble-In my opinion, Mr.. Red
ding designedly and Intentionally fasiies.
Mr. Buckingham-He has laid obstacles
in the way of the Commission from
the first day of his appointment.
simply because he could not step into the
shoes of his father.
Mr.. Dibble-As late as the 3lst of March,
1885, he wrote us letter regarding seals
and sea lions, stating that he had appointed
three gentlemen-Dr. Hardness, DR.. Sutro
and Professor Ziegle-to investigate the
matter and report to him, and he would
then lay their reports before this Com
mission. So far as my personal conduct
toward him is concerned, | have every
reason in the world to have no asso,
citation with him. Here is letter to
me, dated January 3 1888, which is
very insulting Since its reception
| have not recognized him as a Commits
sioner nor personally. | was instrumental
in securing his appointment as a Commits
sioner. | asked it out of respect and on
account of the valuable services rendered
the State by his father. He charges that |
| did not make my report nor file it until
! =
time and in the hands of the State Printer
in the month of November. The same
| cannot be said of our predecessors. There
| is one word in the English language that
expresses great deal, and in speaking of
the old Board, gdle They were all spien
| did gentlemen, and l would not disturb
the cctfins in which they rest for anything
| in the world. Their report should have
| been made out in October, but was not I'M
| ha Il.
August last Redding sent his charges
to the Governor. The latter mott
| fed us of their filing, and fur
nished copies of the charges Subsequently
| IN due season we filed our answers, so the
| Governor is not at fault at all At the re-
quest of Commissioner Buckingham and
myself, when we filed our answer to the
charges, whilst doubling his authority to
| have an Investigation, we begged him
that an examination of matters and facts
| be made. We have been ready at all times
| since to have such investigation as there
is nothing we desire to conceal but on
| the contrary, wish the public to thorough
| Iy understand this whole matter The
| charge against my associate Mr. Bucking-
ham, of llliteracy, has no foundation in
fact. His report has been universally com
mended by the press and people. So far
as the expenditure of the money of the
State is concerned all accounts have by
| virtue of law been passed to the State
Board of Examiners and by them ap-
proved, otherwise not a dollar could
have been drawn. All the ac-
counts referred to are now in the office
of the State Controller, where they are
open to the inspection of the public. No
warrant could have been drawn until passed
| and approved by the Board of Examiners.
The charge against Mr.. Buckingham, as
made by Mr.. Redding, of receiving 500,
which had net been heard from since is
false in intention and fact. The check was
received, cashed and duly credited, all of
which can be ascertained by examining the
accounts on file with the State Controller.
The averment that Redding made that the
steam launch Governor SLOVENIAN cost
81, 900, is evidence of the fact that he did
not know what he was talking about, as the
Legislature only appropriated $4,000 for
that purpose. We could not go beyond
that, and he ought to have known that
statement was false when he made it. The
charges with reference to the State Salmon
Hatchery are of the same character I'M
true. The Commission, in the construction
of that magnificent hatchery has expended
about $4,000 and the hatchery cannot be
excelled by any in the United States that
we know of.
Referring to the hatchery and the expend-
iture just spoken of, Commissioner Dibble
stated that in four years past the United
States Government had expended on the
hatchery on the McCloud river S53. 776, and
that the capacity of the State hatchery was
much greater and that its furnishings and
equipments on the expenditure of $4,000 is
one hundred fold better than the hatchery
on the McCloud.
Continuing Mr.. Dibble said The State
hatchery is situated on Hat creek, two and
half miles above its junction with Pit
river The delay in its completion has been
owing to causes not within the control of
the Commission. 1t will be completed and
ready for the spring and fall runs of salmon.
He said the country in the neighborhood
of the hatchery were picturesque in the
extreme Birney creek falls, near by, are
100 feet high, over which pours a large
volume of beautiful water, and from the
bottom to the top water oozes out of the
rock, which gives it a picturesque and
grand appearance that must be seen to be
appreciated. Half mile above the falls
| the bottom of the creek is perfectly dry,
| and such another formation he did not be-
| lieve existed anywhere.
| Hat creek, at the hatchery, is $50 feet
| wide, 81 feet deep; the water is pure, cold
and so clear that you can see every pebble
at its bottom. 1t is a stream that contains
the same volume of water winter and
| summer. Inc highest rise ever known Is
said to have been less than ten inches.
| The hatchery receives pure, cold water
through pipe 400 feet in length and under
| a 25-foot pressure.
To reach the hatchery, you leave the
railroad at Redding, take the stage at 4 A.
NJ. and reach the hatchery at I P NJ The
road is mountainous, there being about 40
miles of grade. Fall River Mills, village
about nine miles north of the hatchery,
has q population of about 800 Birney
| Valley, nine miles south, is an enterpris-
J ing village of about $50 inhabitants. Since
/ the hatchery was located Postoffice has
been established there, called Carbin, and
Dick Merchen has been installed as Post
master. Dick is a died-in-the- wool Repub-
lican, but Judge Dibble assured the re-
porter that he was not an offensive partisan
and the civil service reform will suit his
case exactly.
The Commissioners said that before es-
tablishing they took the statements of all
the old residents, and of the Indians of that
section also, regarding the run of salmon.
and were convinced that all the spawn
could be secured that was required The
water in the McCloud frequently, under
the influence of heavy rains, rises twenty
FIVE and even thirty feet. The United
States hatchery on that river was carried