Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-17
FISH COMMISSIONERS.
Rivers and Streams Rendered Fishless by
Lawless Dam makers.

Rivers and Streams Rendered Fishless b,
Lawless Dam-makers.
The State Board of Fish Commissioner,
met at the Union Hotel in this CITY. Satur
day morning, all the members present
Representatives of the Natoma Water and
Mining Company appeared before the Gem.
mission, in reference to the construction Of
hsh-ways over the corporations dam, in the
South Fork of the American river. nea,
Sai-.-Jn Falls in FL Dorado county. For.
merry, in the pioneer days of California
before hydraulic mining DESTROYED tbe
spawning beds and feeding grounds. the
American was one of the finest trout and
salmon streams on the coast. In the past
lew years, since the cessation of hydraulic
mining, tie stream has again become al
most clear, and would furnish food fish to
u large section, were II not for the dam re-
ferred to. The District Attorney of Ell Do
rado county has commenced action against
the corporation to compel them to make
proper hsh-ways, in conformity to the stat
utes. The representatives of the ditch
company say they are willing to comply
with the law, but the plans and specifca-
lions for tish-way furnished by the Com
mission are such as would cost some s., 600
TO construct, and from the nature of the
stream would not be what is wanted. Fish
ladders OF other, cheaper and better plans
can be constructed. They asked the Fish
commissioners to visit the dam with them
and agree upon plan as to how the evil
can be best remedied. The matter was re-
ferred to Commissioner Buckingham, with
power to act
DEPUTIES APPOINTED
Captain II. H. Todd was appointed Dep
uty Fish Commissioner for Mariposa
county, and he will take immediate steps
TO have all dams removed from the MERGED
river, or supplied with proper fish ladders.
Thomas K. Lucas, of UAiah, was ap-
pointed Deputy Commissioner for Mendo-
emo county. In communication to the
Commission Mr.. Lucas said that Robinson
creek, magnificent trout stream, had been
rendered troutless by the construction of
dams. Being now clothed with proper
authority he will have them removed from
the stream, or else the owners will be COM
pelied to construct proper fishwavs.
Several communications were received
from parties asking for black bass. The
Commission has large quantity of this
excellent fish in Crystal spring and Teme-
seal lakes but are unwilling to furnish
any at this season of the year, as they are
now running. The best time to transplant
the bass is in the fall, after the waters in
the ponds, lakes and streams begin to get
cold. Commissioner Sherwood saws he in
tends stocking the Feather river with this
toothsome and gamy fish. He also thought
1t would be good plan to stock Cache
creek with them.
\ TEST CASE To BE MADE
Commissioner Dibble said much COM
plant came from Truckee, regarding the
spearing of trout while en- route to the
spawning grounds by the Indians.
He had instructed the Deputy
District Attorney of Nevada county
to arrest the Indians so engaged and make
a test case. Their depredations were not
confined TO the Truckee river, but extended
to Weber, Tahoe, Bonner and other lakes.
The Commissioners instructed Mr.. Buck
ingham to prosecute the owners of Moore's
dam Ia barrier in Cache creek, some three
miles above the town of Woodland), who
refused TO comply with the instructions of
the local authorities or the statutes regu-
lating such matters.
Charles w. Perdue, of Colusa, reported
that he had made several arrests of illicit
Chinese fishermen, had confscated their
fishing outfits and asked for assistance in
their prosecution in Court.
A letter was received from Loren B.
Green, manager of the United States
Hatchery, at Baird's, in Shasta county,
stating that he had shipped 5000 rainbow
trout eggs to Shelley hatchery.
SALMON STEADILY DECREASING.
Commissioner Buckingham said the run
OF salmon in the upper waters of the rivers
was unusually light this year. 1t was not
owing as many supposed, to the high stage
OF water During the high waters of 1861
~ the run of salmon in the Sacramento
was unusually good. He said the sea lions
came in for their share. Since the seals
have been protected by law they have in
creased TO such an extent that it is estima-
ted that to-day fully 5000 of them occupied
the rocks at the entrance to the Golden
Gate. Say, that each seal devours twenty
pounds OF salmon day-a small estimate
and you have fifty tons of salmon de
stroyed daily that would, if permitted to do
so, find its way into San Francisco bay.
the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and
their tributaries. In the next place. they
could not procure enough spawn for arti-
fetal Matching. The bays and rivers were
dragged and netted daily by 1000 to 5000
fishermen, who captured from 500 to l GOO
pounds of fish every day. The nieshes
used in large number of nets were so
small that spawning fish could not get
through them. A four and one-halfinch
mesh caught all the COWS and calves. Above
this city, every few miles nets had been
discovered with only two and one-half-
inch mesh, and the farmers on the plains
OF Colusa and Suffer counties were better
supplied with salmon and shad than was
the Sacramento market. On Friday last,
fish day, the fish markets of this city
were lily supplied, there being less than
fifty salmon in all.
PROTECTIVE LEGISLATION PROPOSED.
Secretary Dibbe said that the salmon
were rapidly decreasing was undoubtedly
true, and that they would be entirely wiped
out was also true ifsom measures were not
taken TO correct some OF the more glaring
evils. He said the seals had been censured
great deal, and he did not doubt but that
they ate great many salmon. This, how
ever, they had been doing for thousands of
years before the advent of the white man
to this country, and yet we are told by the
pioneers of this western country that they
found all our rivers and streams teeming
with salmon. That supply of fish could
be maintained in any stream with so little
a close season as we had here was IN itself
an absurdity. He recommended that
bill be drawn up and presented to
the Legislature at IFS next session
making a close season for salmon
of the months of June and September.
Then, and not till then, will the salmon be
able to reach the spawning grounds. He
said there had been no artificial salmon
Matching in this State amounting to any
thing at all. -Four years ago 1t was reported
that 100000 were put in the river, but so
far they had not shown up. The fishermen
have barricaded the river and are exhaust
ing the supply. The management of the
United States hatchery on the McCloud re-
port that there is total absence of salmon
in that stream this season.
Arrangements were made with General
William Phipps, of Georgetown, Cal, for a
large supply of eggs from Tahoe trout.
After transacting large amount of nee
essary but unimportant business, the Board
adjourned to Saturday, July 10th.
Yesterdays Picnic.
Sacramento Stamm, U. o. r. NJ, held