The record-union., 1892-12-15
FISH AND GAME.
Present Difficulties in the Way Of
Their Protection.
The Commissioners Think 1t Would
Pay the State to Save Them
for the People.

In their biennial report to the Governor,
the members of the state Board Of Fish
Commissioners refer to the difficulties at
tending all efforts to enforce the fish and
game laws and prevent the wholesale de-
struction OF fishes and game by a few per-
sons who seek TO enrich themselves at
the expense Of the whole people. Say the
Commissioners:
The territory of the State of California
is so large in area, and the number and
variety OF its streams and water, and di-
versity Of game, so greatly i'll excess Of
those Of any other State of the Union, and
in fact OF any number of States, that it is
hard to appreciate the volume OF work
that the Commissioners and their deputies
are called upon to perform.
NOT ENOUGH MONEY.
The two chief divisions of our labors
are, respectively, the patrol and the
hatchery departments. Under the former
Is included the maintenance of the fish
and game laws. For this purpose, under
the present law, there is an annual ap-
preparation of 5000. With this amount
at hand we are supposed to engage COM
petent deputies to patrol the various
WharVeS and fish. markets of San Fran
cisco and the other large cities Of the
State; to watch all of the avenues of in
gress and prevent the importation of GER
tain nsh and game when out Of season; to
keep vigilant eye on the $50 miles of the
bay lines of San Francisco and continent
bays and rivers, and to make continuous
trips from one end of the State to the
other, and throughout the length and cir
cumference Of all of its streams and wa
ters for similar purposes.
RESTRICTED OPERATIONS.
1t is impossible, with the small ap-
preparation allowed us for this depart
ment, to properly carry out that portion
of the law which makes it the duty of the
commission to protect and preserve the
hsh and game IN the State. 1t IS hardly
necessary to give any reasons for this,
Tor they must be apparent to everyone
who Will give the matter one moments
thought. five undertook to patrol the
State in detail, the actual travelling ex-
penses Of the deputies alone would ex-
haust the fund. Approaching this, the
commission has devoted almost its entire
attention to what it conceived would pro-
duce the best results, namely:
First-Ihe prevention for sale in the
markets of San Francisco of fish and
game at the time when it is unlawful to
sell the same.
Second-The prevention of illegal fish
ing in the bay OF San Francisco, es-
pecially in the catching of the young fish.
Third-The prevention of illegal fish
ing in the Sacramento River.
Fourth-The prevention of dumping
sawdust and other deleterious substances
into the various rivers and streams of the
state.
Fitth-The requiring of the construc-
ton and maintenance of fish ladders.
What we have been able 10 accomplish
in this direction will be shown in detail
by the reports of our deputies and ex-
cerpts therehom, which are attached to
and made part of this biennial report.
GOOD MEN REQUIRED.
It requires a particular fitness to be
competent deputy i'll this department.
The patrol men are called upon to under
go all kinds of hardships, to be exposed
so wet weather at all times of the day ana
night ana to come in contact with some
OF the most brutal and irresponsible
classes Of men. The position demands
shrewdness, bravery and executive abil-
ity of high order, beside a thorough
familiarity with the topography of our
State. In order to properly fulfill the
work of this department and to employ
sufficient number of competent men
there should be
AN ANNUAL APPROPRIATION OF AT
LEAST $4,000,
To be used entirely in this division ofthe
labors of the commission. Beside the
patrol work and arrest of viOlators of the
fish and game laws, there follows an i'm
mense amount of labor in the trial and
conviction of the offenders. The deputies
making the arrest have to be pres
ent at the trial. This, coupled
with the customary delays OF legal pro-
cedure, demands great deal of time and
often prevents our employees from doing
important service in other directions.
Only by a sufficient appropriation can
the Commissioners hope to even par
TALLY fulfill the duties which are pre-
scribed to them in this behalf under the
law.
The exclusive attention of our deputies
has been given to the Patrol Department
ever since their appointment. We beg to
express to you our satisfaction in what
has been accomplished in this matter of
the prevention of the sale of fish and
game in the markets, and especially with
the results which has been accomplished
in the prevention of the dumping of saw
dust into the Sacramento, Truckee and
other rivers and streams, and also in the
establishment and maintenance of fish
ladders in the Truchee River and other
places.
OUR MOST DIFFICULT LABOR
Has been found III the neighborhood of
the bay of San Francisco and in the Sac
ramento River. We believe that we have
accomplished all that our funds would
permit us TO do. Your attention is called
10 the fact that the shore line of the bav
and the Sacramento River alone covers a
distance of more than 80 miles. The
fishing business is carried on and con-
Quoted at all points on the Sacramento
River, from the city of Sacramento TO the
mouth of the river, and all points on the
bay.
AS above suggested, the sum of s., 900 is
absolutely inadequate, if devoted exclu-
sively to this department, to accomplish
much active results. The sum of S5O,C00
would permit the commission to not
merely threaten the arrest of the violators
of the fish laws by infrequent visits, but,
on the contrary, to accomplish their arrest
and conviction in eYarY Instance