The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-08
A KETTLE OF FISH.
The Commissioners All
Out of Town.
A NICE STATE OF AFFAIRS.
No One to Look After Deputies or the
Game and Fish interests
of the State.
A NICE STATE OF AFFAIRS.

"Of the many commissions that are CT
little use in this State The Fish Commission
IS the worst"
This remark was made yesterday by
prominent sportsman TO CALL representa-
tive, who was looking all over town for a
Fish Commissioner.
Joseph d. Redding is not to be found. He
IS sojuurning somewhere in the East, and
Mr.. Morizio's whereabouts cannot be asser-
tanned.
Mr. Ramon Wilson resigned from the
flee some months ago in disgust. and Of
lie many sportsmen who were seen not one
Of them could give information as to who
the Governor has appointed in Mr.. Wilson's
place.
The Fish Commission, as it now stands.
is pretty kettle Of fish.
While the Commissioners are nowhere to
be found unlawful fishing is going on with
impunity.
The Chinese are aware Of the situation
aud are making hay while the sun shines,
50 to speak.
Tie many unlawful devices that MongO-
liam fishermen have heretofore practiced
for the capture Of salmon, which at this
season of the year run in large numbers
INTO the rivers, are again brought into use.
There is no attention given now TO the
unlawful capture Of fish. Ii there was the
Fish Commissioners deputies would not
allow the many set lines that are stretched
across the mouths OF the rivers and streams
that empty into the bays to remain sta
tiOnary.
1t is almost impossible for a fish to escape
the hundreds OF hooks that are arranged for
its capture.
The salmon is the greatest sufferer.
At this season Of the year thousands Of
these grand food fishes leave the ocean on
their journey TO the spawning beds at the
headwaters OF the rivers from which they
originally came. IL they are unlawfully
DESTROYED, as they are being now, it will
not be many years when the salmon will be
considered luxury on the coast which only
the rich can afford to enjoy.
A commission has been appointed for the
sole purpose Of seeing that proper measures
are taken toward the preservation Of fish
and game.
An appropriation is allowed for this
purpose. which might just as well be
thrown to the winds. as there has been
nothing done, especially since Mr.. Wilson
resigned from the Office, 20 satisfy the
spOrtsmen ard the people Of the Stale that
the Commissioners have done their duty.
Deputy Commissioners receive salary
OF S125 a month, for doing what?
licenses from the Italian fishermen VINO
ply their vacations On the Sacramento
River,
One good man could, In this particular,
do the work that three or four men are now
paid fat sa aries to perform.
The Fish Commission OF California as il
Is at present is a farce Of the most udierous
kind, and prominent spOrtsmen are
seriously thinking of devisng some scheme
toward is future adjustment.
The Commissioners are supposed TO meet
onre a month, but their sessions are like
snowstorms 10 San Francisco-few and far
between.
Tho Chinese are not only engaged at the
present lime IN the Illegal capture of salmon
by means Of sturgeon and set-li2es, but
bands If them can be seen daily SEEMING the
waters Of the bay for small FISH with nets
the dimensions Of which Will not allow u
mnn0w 10 escape.
the little fishes are dried and sent to
China, wksfe they command good prices.
About two years ago Chinese merchants
here who had numbers of their coantrymen
fishing On the bay for small fishes openly