The record-union., 1894-09-27
REPORT OF THE FISH COMMISSION.
Excellent Work on a Very Small Ap-
preparation.
Some Figures that the Legislators VIII
do Well TO Study-Large In
terests at Stake.

to the changes in the commission the late
Ramon e. Wilson is highly spoken Of.
The work and scope OF the commission
are developing upon broader lines each
year, and although the appropriations are
INSULT cient, the results are very gratify-
ing. Much attention has been paid to the
food fishing industry, which is OF great
Importance, California ranking as sixth
among the States. with products valued
at S3,044, ,73l, as against Massachusetts,
the first, with products valued at s., ,53l,-
l94. Massachusetts, with S.3l5 square
miles, appropriates Sl5,700, while Califor-
MIA, with 15S, 800 square miles to protect,
only appropriates ST.. 500.
The commission, therefore. has to ex-
ercise the utmost economy in order to
avoid deficiencies. In the thickly settled
portions of the East public opinion is
great aid to protection, but in the sparsely
settled portions of this State it is just the
reverse, and there is greater need of pro-
lection.
The report commends to the Governor
and Legislature the work of the late
Sportsmen's Convention, and the ap-
pointment of game wardens for each
county. Effective steps have been taken
To enforce the Cold-Storage Act and other
sections Of the law, and test cases have
been made in the courts. Twice as many
hsh have been propagated as by any for
mer commission, dams and fishways
Kept in order, and the Truckee River
cleared of sawdust. Several new species
OF trout have been introduced, and start
made in the propagation of Mongolian
pheasantS.
COMPARATIVE APPROPRIATIONS.
In area, Maine, New Hampshire. Massa-
chuSettS, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New
York Naw IprSpU PpOnsVIyanja
Delaware exceed California by only $500
square miles, yet they appropriate 5000
annually, besides deriving great benefit
from the work of the United States Fish
Commission and from each others work.
srNeW ork alone eXpends $1,000. While
California expends Sll 81 per square mile
OF fresh water, Pennsylvania expends
S97 81, New York 500 o., Connecticut S75,
and Massachusetts S104 81. The States
around the great lax es that have eX pended
the most money are the ones that have
made the largest increases in the value of
their fish products. Michigan, with 5S. 600
square miles, a little over one-third the
area Of California, expends S27, ,4S3 for the
propagation OF fish alone. She also has
Game Warden, who appoints ten depu-
ties to assist him, and each county ap-
points three more. In 1891 the counties
paid these men 1000 for their services,
and they consider that it is money well
expended.
The report gives a vast amount of SINH
lar statistics, showing what other States
are doing. The Southern States have
given these matters but little attention,
and inquiries develop the fact that their
waters are fast being depleted. Some of
them have Commissioners, but there are
no funds for them to work with.
VALUE OF CALIFORNIA FISHERIES.
The total value of our fishing products
in 1S92 was S3,O44, 269, an increase over
those of 1880, which are the first complete
figures obtainable, of Sl, 49,, 500. The to-
tai amount of capital invested in the fish
cries in 1892 was 81, 543, l62, as against
81, ,403, 4S7 in 1880. In 1880 1904 men were
Employed; in 1892 there were 1869 men.
In 1880 California occupied the eighth
rank In the list of States, and in 1892 she
had moved up to the fifth place III the
value of her fisheries. she ranks first ia
the seal and other fisheries; second in the
whale fishing, and would be first but Tor
the fact that large part of the Massa-
chusetts whaling fleet makes its head
quarters at San Francisco and its catch IS
credited to Massachusetts, while the Cali
fornla hgureS represent only the catch of
this State. California ranks second in
the crustace3n, sixth In the mOlluscan,
eighth in the reptiIian and thirteenth in
the general food and bay fisheries, and is
interested in six OF the nine fisheries in
the United States that are valued at
over S1,000,000.
Oh
pounds. In 1878, 100000 fry having
been put into the Sacramento River, the
catch was $500, ,76S pounds. In 1880 it was
10, 600 pounds, showing the advantage
realized by propagating and stocking. In
1884 the spawning station at Baird's was
closed on account OF blasting operations
at Redding, and the catch decreased for
several years, but has lately been in
creasing largely, the Matching having
been resumed. These figures show the
necessity of artificial propagation and
the success attending it when kept up
OYSTERS.
In 1880 the output of oysters for the en-
tire Pacific Coast was only $1,000 bushels,
valued at $4,000. In 1892 the output of
California alone was 17S,645 bushels.
valued at S69S, 257. This is the result Of
propagation and distribution.
sHAD AND STRIPED BASS.
When shad were first planted here
S34, 900 were introduced. In 1880. 600
pounds were marketed. In 1888 there
were 90,67l pounds sold. and in 1892 there
were 526, 494 pounds, valued at Sl4, ,372
and more could be caught If there were
sufficient demand for them.
The most wonderful results however.
were attained by the striped bass, OF
which only 100 were planted In 1879, and
$50 in 1882. They made no showing in
the markets till 1888, when few were
sold at 81 per pound. In 1892 the catch
had increased to 56,209 pounds, valued at
Sc, 4SS In 1898 and this spring the catch
has largely increased the catch for the
first six months OF 1894 exceeding that of
1898 by 2S, 703 pounds, and the price hav-
ing fallen TO cents.
OF the much-abused catfish only IA
were planted in 1874. In 1892 the catch
amounted TO l96, 395 pounds and the value
to So, ,043. They fetch a better price in
Sacramento than do shad.
The State, however, makes an annual
appropriation of only $l7, 500 to protect
all these fisheries, which have an annual
product of over s., 100000.
THE WORKERS.
John p. Babcock, Chief Deputy of the
Patrol and Hatchery Department, was
appointed in 1892, and has won high COM
mendation by his zeal and efficiency. He
has taken part in the prosecution of
forty-three offenders.
F. z. Deering, the attorney of the board
has made compilation of the game ana
fish laws, with all ordinances concerning
them passed by the different Boards OF
Supervisors. 1t is a valuable work. He
has also prosecuted many suits against
offenders.
A. @. Fletcher, at present Assistant
Secretary, made twenty-three arrests
while deputy in Southern California
Deputy A. ". Wilson, appointed in 1898
Aas caused the arrest of fifty-four Offend
ers w. X. Mackarland, appointed last
April, has made satisfactory license COL
lectionS, and also made eleven arrests
These and number of other officers
who have been retired, have done very
aflicient work. L. w. Hunt, Superin-
tendent of the Bear River and Tahoe
Hatcheries, is a competent, efficient and
faithful worker, as are w. ID. Shelley,
~.