The morning call., 1892-08-27
THE COMMISSIONS scRUPLEs.
1t HesitAtes I'm Grave Onsnsos, but /.
Active

1t Hesitates In Grave oTsnsos, but l.
Active in Lesser.
CALL reporter who tried to get some
Information yesterday about the suit OF the
Fish Commission against the Taylorville
Paper-mill failed utterly.
The acting secretary OF the commission,
the only one who could be found in town,
disclaimed all knowledge of the suit.
I'VE make no entry Of these things on our
books" he said. "unless a conviction is Sc
cured. l know nothing at all about this
case"
The two deputies, Tunstead and Bah
cock. were on the Sacramento River.
Joseph ID. Redding and Ramon L. Wilson
were out OF town, gone TO the Country
Clubs shoot.
The acting secretary volunteered this in
formation: That William Z. Taylor, one
OF the proDrietors of the paper-mill, had
appeared before the commission aud main
tained TO them that the refuse from his mill
was not poisonous to fish life, nor even in.
furious 10 them.
''Ot course, the commission hated to take
sueE extreme measures against such people,
but they were forced TO do it," volunteered
the acting secretary.
why should the commission have scruples
about bringing rich corporation 10 time,
when they do not hesitate TO arrest and i'm
prison poor fishermen who are only guilty
VI hiiiibH Il lew scores OF USD, Wnere the
paper-mill .p0isOns and kills many thou
sands asked The CALL reporter.
wen, say. the commission would rather
nave the paDeT-Inll people obey the law.
ou see, II isn't pleasant TO proceed against
such people. answered the secretary.
AproDos OF this discrimination Of the
Fish Commission. the anglers who cast
their lines In Papermill Creek and the
neighbOring farmers tell little story that
Is not at all creditable TO the commission.
1t Is that when the season opened last
spring the deputies at Cnce became vigilant
OF the few law-breakers who used TO catch
salmon Saturdays and Sundays q few miles
above the mouth Of the creek.
IL is unlawful TO take salmon or shad by
seine on these two days OF the week during
any part of the year.
few lone, poor fishermen near the
mouth OF Paper-mill Creek persisted I'm
breaking this law last spring.
At once the commission came down on
ihese ofenders aud sent them TO jail If they
could not pay the $50 fine.
Meantime the Taylors were pollu,ing the
waters OF the creek for several miles below
The DILL and thousands of fish, poisoned to
death, lay gaSping and dying on the shores
vi THIS monstrous law-breaking the CON-
mission took no notice at all. They were
too busy catching the fellows who were too
poor TO pay the fine.
AS stated In The CALL OF Thursday the
anglers and residents near the papeI-mill
made frequent appeals 10 the commission
TO protect the stream from the Taylorville
pollution.
And TO each appeal the commission turned
a deaf ear.
Once. In the early part OF the season, after
The dead hsh had been taken to the commits
sion, Mr.. Wilson passed through the paper
mil district on his way 10 Point Reyes.
Several residents OF that city, knowing
Mr. Wilson 20 be a Fish Commissioner,
pointed out to him the discolored and
polluted waters; and once, later In the sea-
son, Deputy Tunstead visited that part OF
the stream and examined its waters.
But ali this came to naught. The COM
mission took no action, and the fish went on
dying 10 the end which IL not vet