The morning call., 1892-04-21
POISONED TROUT.
How Paper.Mill Creek Is Being
Robbed Of Its Fish.
The Water for Miles Colored With q Deadly
Dye Which Is Washed From the Paper
Watts Into the Stream.

Last year the present Board Of Fish Com
missioners notified the owners of sawmills
On the rivers of Mendocno County that I'M
less they would desis: dumping sawdust into
the streams action would be Immediately
taken against them.
Ihe commissioners however were relieved
from further annoyance. as the millmen
agreed TO burn the refuse matter, which is
SO very injurious to fish. Within the past
year the results accruipg from the burning
Oh sawdust have been very apparent. The
Increase of fish. especially in the Garcier
ana Gualala rivers, on the borders of
which have been erected several mills, has
oeen most noticeable, and anglers and the
lovers OF wholesome food fishes, especially
trout and salmon, will be pleased to know
mat these streams will be as productive of
trout year hence as they were previous to
the erection of sawmills on their banks.
DEFYING THE LAW.
Unfortunately. there are among the mill
owners elsewhere a few obstinate people
who defy the laws. and although repeatedly
warned OF their transgressions, continue TO
follow out their accustomed systems of muir
derlng fishes by having deposited the poi
sonous refuse OF the mills into rivers that
are being rapidly dccimated of their finny
inhabitants
The law which particularly refers to mill
owners on this matter IS very explicit and
reads thusly:
into any of the walers of this State any lime. gas
tar eOccuus indicus, sawdust or auy substance
aeleterious TO fish Is guilty OF m!sdemeanor
anu every person who uses any poisonous or eX-
Plosre substances for the purpose or taking or
destroying ish is guilty OF misdemeanor.
Several complaints have reached this
Office OF the shameful way in which fish
have been killed in Paper-mill Creek by
of naE SQd
from the paper-mill into the stream. color
ing the water for miles a creamy white, and
In the course OF its passage destroying the
lives OF hundreds Of food fishes.
MANY DEAD FISHES.
Yesterday gentleman returned from an
angling trip with several dozen dead trout.
which he found floating on the surface of
the water. The fish were suffoca ted by the
powerful dye which is washed from the
watts Of the mill and allowed to pass into the
creek.
The dead fishes were shown to Commits
sioner Redding, who said. in his usual ap-
parently unconcer1ed way: TOO bad. too
bad ii should be stopped"
Ramon T.. Wilson, who is a most enthu-
Slasue sportsman and angler. has cautioned
the mili-owners several times TO desist. but
the Commissioners warnings seem to be as
effective. that is in the way of scare, to the
paper merchants. as the drOppings Of a
gentle shower on the back of a migratory
water fowl.
Although the Commissioners are handi-
capped to some extent in not having fund
sufficient to prosecute the transgressors OF
the game and fish laws, they certainly
should not stand by and permit such
fragrant defiance of the laws as is now going
on almost under their very noses.
III the mil-ownerS of one county condo
seend TO respect the law there is 40 reason
why the same observance should not be en-
forced In all counties governed by the same
code.
Commissioner Wilson said yesterday that
he Will take immediate steps 10 prevent 4
continuance of the depopulation of the
fishes of the Paper-mill Greek by poisonous
acids from the mills. The proprietors of
paper mills will be duly notified Of the
commissioners intentions to-day.