The record-union., 1893-01-04
PRESERVE THE TROUT.
Wherein the Present Law Fails TO
Serve its Purpose.
Mountain View Register.

Mountain View Registerl
The heavy winter rains have opened
up the numerous streams flowing into
the bay or the ocean and thus given the
salmon-trout and tile trout an oDportuni-
ty reach 10 their spawning grounds
There should be good fishing next sea-
son. There will be If the close season is
properly observed.
But tho people Of California have but
little regard Tor laws that are intended to
preserve game from extinction. The
laws are violated everywhere, and the
patrol Of the state Commission and the
/ detectives Of the state Sportsmen Club can
do but little toward preventing il.
Already the greed Of the salmon can
ners and the lawlessness Of the salmon
fishermen have practically wiped out tho
salmon from the State This splendid
/ fish, II preserved from destruction. would
/ be worth millions Of dollars TO California
as food product. The Legislature this
coming season could pass no more i'm
portant piece Of legislation than an Act
prohibiting entirely the canning OF
salmon on the Bay OF San Francisco and
the Sacramento and san Joaquin Rivers
for period OF live years, permitting,
however, the catching Of salmon, with
the exception OF proper close season,
for the supply Of the local markets Of the
State. 1t is the canning industry that
has almost depleted our waters Of that
J Nsi4udblG bSAl+ ~ AWAY Win LudL. LOT q
number OF years, ana the salmon will
rapidly multiply III spite OF the numbers
that viii be caught TO he sold fresh in the
cities and towns and throughout the
farming communities.
As 10 trout, they would thrive nOtwith-
standing the numerous lniractiOns Of the
law imposing a tive-mOnths' close season
were the law SO amended as to make it a
serious misdemeanor to catch them when
| under, say SIX inches in length. The
average angler is always anxious to
make killing" He gauges his sue
cess not by the size of the trout he hooks
but by their number With him. EVERY
thing goes" For every six or eight
inch trout his basket VIII show twenty.
| between three and live inches in length.
Ii rs this kind OF angling that has caused
trout TO be SO scarce IN our mountain
streams; and SO long as it is permitted,
it IS useless for the state 10 spend large
/ sums Of money annually in restocking
them.
AS a food supply: as an incentive to
/ outdoor exercise; AS a source Of pleasure
10 thousands; as not the least ot the at
] fractions Of our grand mountains, to
spend few weeks among which each
summer is to receive new life physically
and mentally, to cultivate q taste for the
beautiful and TO awaken to more vigor-
Gus action our moral sentiment, il is
impossible to estimate the value of tho
trout TO the people Of California. Its ex-
tinction would be "a deplorable loss.
santa Clara County ls favored with
numerous picturesque trout streams. and
on tho ocean side oil tho western range OF
mountains, within "a few hours Of this
valley, are many other streams larger.
deeper and usually We'll filled with trout.
The steelhead predoIuinates, but the rain
bow trout is also found. The people Of
this county are, or should be. Interested
N preventing those streams from being
depleted. Residents of other parts of the
state are, or should be, equally Interested
in their own localities. The Rcgistcg sub
mits the above suggestions as to needed
changes in the law, and asks that the
newspapers and all lovers OF angling give
the matter serious consideration, to the
end that It's Importance may be duly i'm
pressed upon the members Of the Legis-
lature soon to convene.