The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-16
A KETTLE OF FISH.
The Game Commissioners Have
One That Is Not Pretty.
q star-chamber Meeting at Which Serious
Charges Are Made-Bribs Cards for
Chinese Law-Breakers.

The State Board OF Fish Commissioners are In
trouble. They prefer, however, to nurse their
grief alone, and care nothing for the sympathy OF
The public. 1t is real sorrow and II tiuctured
by genuine regret is all the more poignant and is
never 10 he paraded before the eyes OF the public.
They want to be all alone with their dead. as
II were. and when they convene for the purpose
OF weeping and recalling fond memories OF the
DAYS that are past they close the windows,
daIken the room aud see that the doors are Sc
cuIely fastened.
The cause of their soul-sckening woe seems TO
be one Thomas Tunstead, a man with 'hshy'
aspirations. AT a meeting Of the Fish Commits
sioners. held July I'd, Tunstead presented bill
of S647 80 for services rendered in the capacity
OF Deputy Inspector. The board knew nothing
OF his bill or of his ever having been appointed
an Inspector. Tunstead then explain ed that he
had been employed by Chief OF Patrol Fred Z.
Callundan, at a salary of SO per month. that he
had rendered honest and efficient service aud
expected to be remunerated therefor, according
to agreement.
Chairman Downey Harvey Informed him that
inasmuch as the board had not engaged him
him they could not audit his bill.
AN EXPOSURE THREATENED.
every WE'LL" replied Tunstead, "if my bill is not
paid [ will expose some of the questionable
methods pursued by Chief Of Patrol CalIundan
IN his dealings with those who have violated the
game laws | Will tell what know, which Will
be sufficient TO land him i'll San Quentin. l viii
also prove that others in the employ OF the COM
mission have unlawfully retained State funds
and in other ways enriched themselves at the
public expense"
The members OF he board were rather in
clined o treat the matter as n huge joke petpe-
tiated through motives of revenge and prompted
by Calundan's refusal TO acknowledge that he
hadi engaged the services OF Tunstead as H.
spectOr.
Mr. Harvey asked Tunstead II lie would pre-
sent his charges iu the form OF sworn state
meut, and informed by the latter that he
would do so at any time and place which Mr.
Harvey might name. July 9Th was set as the
day on which the charges should be listened TO by
the board. aud on that day Tunslead appeared
with the charges IN writing, but mad laeu 10
nave them sworn to. aud then filing was deferred
until yesterday, when the board again was 10
listen 10 Iuuslead'S expose.
STAR CHAMBER.
The meeting yesterday was called for ! 30
O'Clock, and was held III j. Downey Harveys
private Office al 10l SansOme street.
A CALL reporter detailed 10 report the meet
ing, finding the office door open, slipped INTO the
room and took seat at small table, which
might have been placed There expressly for re-
purteS. But 1t WAS not.
In the room were Chief Of Patrol Callundan,
Game Inspector j. Ennis and Thomas Iunsedd.
Commissioner Reuter- and DOwney Harvey
were holding conversation IN an undertOne In
one Co: ner of the apartment, each having type
written document IN his hand.
Harvey was doing most Of the talking ana
geSticulaIed expressively, willie REUTER- sub
missiyely listened and nerSously stroked his
beard.
blOOd-thirsty glahces at Tunstead, who WAS EN-.
gagged IN maslicating a piece of navy plug and
staring vaeantiy AT The whiperng officials.
AS He reporter was preparing Tor action by
putting point on d bit of pencil j. DOwney HaT-
vey approached. and The following dialogue took
"Well, sir. are the Fish Commissioners to have
meeting this EVENING"" asked the reporter.
No, sir; they are nOt!'
at was understood that they would meet to
investigate or listen to Mr.. Tunslead's charges"
THE PUBLIC NOT WANTED.
"Well, yes-ahem-l suppose. Who told you
that? Yes, they Will; but II will be private
strictly private and of interest to the public.
When W need you We Will let y0u know"
The reporter, thinking that the invitation to
vacate was Enthusiastically clear, prepared 10
leave.
Hold ont' shouted Mr.. Tunsiead, jumping to
his feet. This is not secret meeting, and the
public are Interested in the deliberations OF
their servants. l am here TO prefer charges OF
corruption against certain officials. and demand
that The whole Thing snail be published"
"Ihe whole thing Will not be published" said
Halyey "Ur any pant of it,"
"I'r have 10 Star-chamber proceedings in this
Natter" interrupted Tuustesd. The people
have right To know the nature of these charges,
and they shall know what action You take re-
Turnstead followed The reporter TO the hall
and said: when this meeting Is lover FL tell
you all about IT,"
Can you get me copy of the charges2" were
asked.
Il can, aud will as soon as The meeting ad
~ hat charges DO you make?"
WHAT HE CHARGES.
81 charge Caundan and others with receiy-
ing bfibes from Chinese fishermen. Any one can
violate lie game laws II they are willing 10 put
up for it. Aud there are things worse than ibis.
Ohi know all about them. 1t is d rotten cou-
Germ all the way through"
The meeting lasted Tor about two hours.
CHINESE FISHERMEN.
An hour or so after the meeting adjourned
Tuastead was seen by reporter. He said: d" |
have just returned from the Chinese quarters In
company with the Fish COmisSlOneTs-DOwney
Harvey and Reuter-. our business in Chinatown
was TO question some OF the Chinese merchants
who have boats on the bay for fishing purposes.
AT The investigation stated to the Commission
ers that these merchants had paid TO some OF
the Deputy Commissioners SIS for each boat
they had employed In the illegal catching OF
small hsll, aud that a card with monogram
stamped thereon was the equivalent or pass
which would give them the right TO catch all
Kinds Of fishes. When The Chinese met chants
were approached on the subject they stated in
The presence OF The Commits toner's that they
paid deputy SIS for each boat they owned,
with HE provision that their employees would be
permitted TO cajch all kinds OF nSh, regardless Of
size oi species"
"Who was Tie deputy that muIcted the Chinese
merchants to Ine tune OF SIS per boat" asked
the reporter.
HUSH MONEY PAID.
"Well," SAID Mr.. Tunstead, that question
put to the merchants and two of them an
sWcleu mai u MI Ennis WAS lie ueputy VINO la0
received the hush money. On being further
questioned by Mr.. Harvey the Chinese gave a
very clear ana concise description OF the deputy
who ocketed their cash. The Commissioners
appeared 10 be fully satisfied and asked them
no further questions"
"Wbo are the deputies employed by the Com
miSsonetS al salary Of 500 Per month.
" There are only TWO deputies under pay,
Ennis aud Callunddn."
"HOw many boats have these Chinese mer-
chants on The bay catching fish, Mr.. i unstead ?"
There are nffy-two boats and about forty.
three of these have paid SIS u month Tor the
privilege OF Illegal fishing. Ten Chinese hsher
men we're arrested at San Pablo on July 9Th
Each boat had pass card which is now held
by The del uiles who made the arrest"
Who are The officers who seized the boats?"
EXPENSIVE VISITING CARDS.
"Mr. Culley aud myself, aud the former has
the caTds in his possession
When The arrest was made Tunstead states
that the Chinese had IN their possession Twelve
young salmon measuring two inches In length,
cOdfsh OF about TWO inches in length, perch of
the size OF a silver dollar and founders still
smaller.
"rheSe Chinese pirates" continued Tunstead,
capture on an average 200 tons OF small fish
day between Redwood City and Benicia which
dried ana shipped to China. Some months
ago The Deputy Commissioners made IL so warm
for them hat Ihey discontinued catching small
fish. but since the cards cane Into existence
tons OF small fishes have been captured"
Ennis, according 10 Mr.. Tuustead, denies that
he received cent from the Chinese fish mer-
chants, but the latter claim TO have positive proofs
that tEey paid him on March last for seven boats
Slo each; III April for seven boats 81 each, and
Tor May, June and July six boats each month at
same price.
PERMITS To VIOLATE THE LAW.
The annual license OF 81 so per head has moth
Ing TO do with the visiting cards" which
quite expressive by The way. The former the
Chinese must pay to The License Collector, but
the latter is onIy quasi-autbority, issued by a
deputy commissioner, giving The Chinese the
right and title 10 transgress The laws OF the State
by catching fish which are protected by the game
and fish laws of the State, but unfortunately for
the fish the gentlemen WHO are supposed to act
as their protectors are the very ones who assist
to deriete tie waters OF the bay OF its choicest
food fishes.
The Commissioners will in all probability look
into This matter when they return from their
summer outing.
A nII Al