Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-01

that they are spawners) have not been dis
| covered. At our feasts this most dainty
fish is an absentee. The eel should do well
in our mud-bottomed waters
VIOLATION OF THE FISH LAWS.
The policy of the Commissioners of
Fisheries, in the years preceding 1888 land
| especially OF the Commission composed of
5. K. Throckmorton and Joseph d. Red
ding in the years 1S81-S2i. relating to yio-
lations of fish laws and 'desultory depre-
dations," is clearly stated in the following
quotations made from their biennial report
! printed in 1888:
" 1t has been frequently suggested to the
Commissioners that they ask the Legisla-
ture for an additional appropriation for
the establishment of a patrol police to
enforce the laws as against these desultory
! depredations. We cannot see the expe-
diency of such an extravaganza, for ex-
travagance il would be. 1t would cost
more to keep it up than any possible bene-
fits derived from it." Page 3.)
The present Commissioners, on coming
into office early in 1888, dissented from the
views and policy above stated On the LIST
day of August, 1888, w. c.. Jones was APP
pointed Deputy Fish Commissioner, and
was instructed to secure force and patrol
the Sacramento and San joaquin rivers
and Suisun and other bays. The work of
| thC PoLiSS puAiol up W TIE TTeScnt uult
has been well done. The chief calls his
men into action wherever required by dis
covered violations and desultory depreda-
tons. Between four and five hundred
offenders and water pirates have been ar
rested, brought to judgment, fined or
jailed, From the last report of Deputy
Commissioner Jones quote the following:
The best evidence | have to offer in the
interest OF the good accomplished by the
river patrol, is the small amount of viola
tons now being committed of the existing
fish laws. 1t is well known fact that
prior to the establishment of an efficient
patrol on the rivers and bays, fishermen
carried on their unlawful business without
restraint"
FfsHwAYs, OR LADDERS
The law makes it the duty of the State
| Board of Fish Commissioners to examine
from time to time. all dams and artificial
distractions in all rivers and streams fire.
qnented by salmon, shad and other migra-
tory fishes, and if the Instructions prevent
! free passage for fishes, to notify the owners
or occupants of the dam or obstruction
to construct, within a specified time, a
durable and efficient fishway. Failure to
comply is made misdemeanor. Early in
1884 the Commissioners caused 10 be en-
graved and printed a l. Plan and Elevation
of Fishways," with proper notice to owners
or occupants of dams or distractions, to
forthwith erect suitable fis!I-ladders, ETC.
{. Whenever complaint has been made to the
Secretary of the Board that a dam or OBJ
struction existed in any stream, that pre-
vented free passage of fish, copies of the
plan and notice have been forwarded to the
complaining parties for service upon the
owner or occupant; and the District Attor-
ney of the county has been requested, in
the event the requirements of the notice
were not complied with, to prosecute the
offender. The failure to erect proper fish
ladders was one of the causes of the &C.
crease of salmon in the years 1884 and
1885.
THE SHELLEY HATCHERY.
This hatchery was established in Nav.
1888. During the year there were Matched
and distributed from the Shelley hatchery
over $1,000 trout; in the year 1884, 219,-
600; during the year 1885 about 80 900
report not yet I'M. The trout distribution
by the old Commission, during Matching
seasons of two years. from January 81,
1850, to December 16, 1882, was 81 900
Cost of labor at the old condemned State
hatchery, during incubating seasons, $3.50
per month report for 1SS1-S2l; cost of
labor at Shelley, 800 per month average
cost of procuring eggs at Shelley much
tess than the cost of eggs delivered at Cha
bot. The present Commissioners are of the
opinion that the distribution in 1886 will
be largely increased. Earnest efforts have
been made to secure black bass eggs from
Eastern States, to be Matched at Shelley.
Livingstone Stone informs the Commission
that none can he had "for love nor
money"
LEGISLATION IN 1885.
During the session of the Legislature of
California in 1885 eight or more bills were
introduced relating to fish interests. Most
Of the bills were drafted or caused to be
drafted, and their passage advocated by
majority of the Commission. Several of
the Acts embraced important amendments
to existing laws, and sought to provide
more ample protection against Illicit fish
ing. Neither newspaper space nor my
time permit me to now present and review
the enacted laws. | shall, however, refer
10 two that were passed.
Steam Launch-( Assembly Bill No. 30S)
introduced by Mr.. Davis, of Sacramento.
January q, 1885: An Act to authorize
the Board of Fish Commissioners of the
State to construct Steam Launch, to aid
IN carrying out the purposes of said Board,
and providing for the payment of claims
incurred in such construction" The Act
passed and became a law in March, 1885.
! The sum of 81 900 was appropriated A
contract for the construction of the boat
was entered into in April, 1885. John
Rock, OF Sacramento, an experienced boat
builder, was the contractor. The contract
| price was 81 900. By reason of alterations
and improvements, deficiency occurred of
! $500. The deficiency, as claim against the
! State, was approved by the State Board of
Examiners. The necessity for the craft
was considered and passed upon by the
| Legislature. The State is now the owner
of the launch, and the people are now the
beneficiaries. The Governor Stoneman is
swift (having made twenty miles in an
hour and ten minutes) possesses ample
| strength, and will do most excellent work.
State Salmon Hatchery Senate Bill No.
1861, introduced by Mr.. Wright, January
p, 1885: " An Act to authorize the Board
of Fish Commissioners of the State to
build and maintain salmon hatchery,
and providing ways and means therefor
The Act became law in March, 1885.
The sum of $4,000 was appropriated.
THE NEW HATCHERY.
| Before entering upon the work of con-
struction, a majority of the Board of Fish
/ Commissioners deemed it of great impor-
lance to personally examine the streams
| whose waters were dischared into the Sac
ramento river. Before. selecting the site a
thorough and practical examination was
made of the Little Sacramento the Nc
Cloud, Pit, and Hat Creek The Com
missioncrs ascertained that the Gov
eminent of the United States had re-
served, for the use of the United States
Fish Commission a large section of land
covering the junction of the McCloud with
Pit river, and that the reservation was
key to the situation. Besides this, Pit river
was found to be subject to heavy annual
freshets, the water rising twenty feet or
more; that the freshets yearly carried away
water-wheels. dams and other appliances
used in connection with the hatchery that
in the year 1880 the entire works were
swept away. From the information OBJ
tanned from parties long familiar with the
locality, and from that acquired by per-
sonal examination, the Commissioners
were unwilling to hazard the States money
at the McCloud. Hydraulic and drift min
ing carried on upon the banks of the Little
Sacramento relieved the Commission of an
examination of the river. Knowing that
Commissioner B. B. Redding had been ia
vorably impressed with the opportunities
presented for a salmon hatchery on Pit
river, and that the salmon sin vast num-
bers reached the foot OF Pit-river falls "