The morning call., 1894-01-30
THE ROD AND GUN.
Quail Shooting in Marin
County.
Streams That Need More Protection
and Less Stocking-knives
and Pistols.

aSportsmen might profit by keeping In mind
the fact that according TO an act passed by the
Supervisors of Marin County last year it will
be unlawful on and after February 1 of this
year TO shoot quail In Marin County. The law
saws:
The ending of the close season as to quail in
section 626 of the Penal Code of the State of CAL
ifornia is hereby changed rom the first DAY or
September TO the first day of october in each
year, that the close season in Marin County as
quail shall be between the first day of February
in each year to the first day of october in the
same year.
Although the change in the law is we'll known
to spOrtsmen who read the papers there are
numbers of quailsnoOters who are not aware
Of the alteration; but according 10 remarks
passed on last Sunday by Constable of the
county, those who are In ignorance of the
change Will have TO pay for their Information in
case they are detected either in shooting quail!
or in having birds in their possession after the
season comes TO an end.
William C. Murdoch. a Fish Commissioner, is
quoted as saying in 'evening paper in refer
ence to the seizure OF nets in the Russian
River:
The use OF nets for the capture OF these large
fish has almost depleted Russian River and its
tributaries OF the much-prized rainbow trout
With the present fish protected there is every
prospect that in the course of few years these
waters Will again become well stocked with the
anglers favorIte fish.
OF hsh protection. In fact, the WORK and eX-
pense at ached to the Matching of fish in the
State hatcherles is comparatively waste of
time and money II poacnerS aud vandalS are
permitted to slaughter trout and salmon by
means of spear and powder almost under the
very eyes of the Commissioners.
During the past week the Spearing OF fish at
the headwaters of Paper-mill Greek as been
going on uninteruptedy, and although this fact
has been brought 10 the attention of the Com
missiOnerS nothing in the way of checking It
has been done. Deputy fish commissioners
have been seen parading the stree of this city
III full midwinter dress when they should be on
duty accomplishing the good work Commits
sioner Murdoch says Is needed most, and that
Is hSn protection.
Last Sunday evening eight steelheads with
the marks OF the spear on their backs were
shipped from Camp Taylor To this city. A few
arrests would end TO stop this unsportsmanlike
system of killing fish and would do more to-
wdrd populaI1ng the stream with edible and
gamey fishes than all the stocking the commits
siOners can do with young fishes from hatch
erirs.
Reports of a similar kind have come from
Glen Ellen and there can be no gainsaying that
If the commissioners would detail some of
their deputies who are not now oyerburdened
with The work of collecting licenses attend
ing TO hatcheres TO patrol Papermill and So
nOma creeks daily for month or So excellent
results would follow.
II is absurd to suppose that If the parent
fishes are slaughtered during the season of
breeding the streams and rivers will be
benefited by having them stocked with fry
enough In their way. but they are decidedly
useless and an expense to the State II the
streams are not protected during the close sea-
son. There are only few creeks within easy
access of this city which anglers can visit dur
ing the open season without having 10 incur
heavy expenses. These streams are the Paper
MILL SODoma Los GatOS, PeScaderO, Boude +
and San GregOrio.
Wen protected any of the above streams
would prove favOrite waters OF anglers during
the angling season. 1t would not be shooting off
/ The mark that if fla Fish Commits SiOupr ~
directed their deputies TO patrol and project the
streams for at least three months of the year
far better results would follow than all that
has been accomplished by the hatcheries of the
Slate since a fi>h commission was first insti-
tuted: As it now stands the commissioners
give their entire attention to the hatcheres and
| the streams, or rather the fishes in them have
! 20 care for themselves.
! drunken crowd of men who had been fish
| ing in MIL Valley Creek during the day,
| contrary TO law of course. boarded the down
/ train from Point Reyes at Fairfax last Sunday,
| and did everything In their power TO pick a
| quarrel with Sport Smen who IN the
/ hunters car. The result was that a man
/ named Taylor was Knocked down while at
| tempting 10 subdue one of the belligerent indl-
| yiduals
| In an instant pistols were drawn by friends
| OF the sportsman who had been the recipient of
| swinging blow on The neck. The assaulters
| looked down the muZZle OF the guns and drew
| back. a word from The leader of the wine
! soaked gang, and before the spOrtsmen had
| realized their d niger In having thr eaiened TO
| shoot The heads Oft the drunken fellows, a
| dozen knives flashed, and for few minutes
| the scene in the hunters car ade the blood in
/ the veins of some of the sportsmen ana tide
| water anglers grow cold. When the train
| reached San Ansclmo an officer from San
! Rafael put In an appearance, and quiet was
| restored when the knfe-welders were trans
| ferred 10 another car.
Only few small fish were caught at ScnOma
! last Sunday by mldwlnter anglers. At Point
! Reyes there were better results. john Butler
! caught two fish. A. Newman. DIR. Simpson and
! j. Samml got a fish each. The smallest Ii Sl
| weighed S1s pounds.