The record-union., 1893-07-22
DEFYING TEE Law.
The Trout Of the American River Be-
ing Destroyed.
A Water Corporation Charged With
Ignoring the Law Requiring the
Use of Fish Ladders.

EDS. RECORD-UNION: l desire through
the columns of your able journal to call
the attention of our Fish Commissioners
TO an existing evil that needs 10 be sup
pressed at once.
There is at the present time, and has
been for twenty years past, corporation
known as the Deep Gravel Mining and
Water Company, taking water from the
American River, just below the junction
of Silver Forks, an outlet of Silver Lake.
A dam is constructed across the river,
diverting the flow of water into its canal,
which carries the said water to and above
Placerville. At flood season, and when
the water is high, they use only part of
the stream; when it recedes, the entire
flow of the river is turned into its canal.
The American River was at one time
one of the finest trout streams in the State;
but 1t Is fast losing its reputation, owing
greatly to this water company defying
the law. They never have had fish
ladder at their dam across the American
River, as required by law.
They divert the entire flow of water
into their canal.
They never have placed and kept in
position screen at the mouth Of their
canal that would prevent fish from enter
ing and passing down the canal. They
have one made of Stats that will let
trout of pound and a half weight
through, and it lies upon the ground,
more Of an ornament than of utility.
AT different points along the course of
the canal the water is turned back into
the river once week, or longer, as the
case may be, to enable their employees to
remove the accommodating debris. When
this Is done hundreds of trout of all sizes
are wantonly destroyed.
The water returns to the river down the
steep mountain sides, having worn
channel by so doing. The water falls
with great force upon the huge rocks and
powders in its pathway. Such fish as
are in the canal at this time are carried
out and dashed TO death on the rocks or
stranded high and dry, dying from sutfo-
cation Ill the bottom of the canal.
They also maintain dam at Silver
Lake. A fish ladder was built, but is of
use only at high water; but as soon as the
gate OF the culvert is lifted the water in
the lake begins to fall. Twenty-four
hours later not a drop of water flows
through the ladder.
The claim is set up that trout can then
enter through the culvert to the lake
Any sane man knows it to be an impoSsi-
bility, the force of water being so
enormous that fish would meet with as
much success did it try to run up n
stream forced from the nozzle of a by-
draulic monitor.
This corporation should be compelled
to keep i'll operation at all times its fish
ladder at the lake, and at low water at the
dam across the American River. allowing
sufficient water to flow through it keep
ing the bed of the river alive. a screen.
approved by the Commissioners, should
be placed at the head of the canal and
kept in position every day in the year.
Livery fair-mInded man asks why this
foreign corporation is allowed to over
ride the law? By whose authority do
they do these things? Where is their
pull, if any?
1t is possible, Mr. Commissioners, You
have placed implicit confidence in your
deputy for that district. Ii so, halt! You
cannot afford to trust man who is re-
puted by the river residents to keep at
convenient place seine, using il with his
friends at the deep holes in the river, sup
plying themselves with trout caught I'M
lawfully.
This is a serious accusation, but is cur
rently stated by many residents whose
names can be had to verify the report.
If such is the case, you cannot reason
ably expect deputy to enforce the law
when he himself violates it.
J. L. MoRRELL.
Sacramento July 10Th.