The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-11
ROD AND GUN.
The Fish Commissioners Should In
crease Their Patrol,


crease Their Patrol.
The time when IL will be in order TO oil guns
preparatory TO giving the irons six months
rest'iS near at hand. There remains only a
few weeks of the open season, and according 10
the present weather outlook there will not be
any great bags of game recorded up to the time
when the Fish and Game Commissioners will
discover that the season for quail and ducks
slaughter has ended.
According to the general law of the State
shooting game and ca ching fish are allowed
only during the following seasons: Deer fl ON
September ] to March 1. doves from August 1
10 March l. wild GucS from September l 10
March /, trout from April 1 10 November l.
1t is presumed that lie Fish and Game Com
miSSlonerS Will uphold their record game
protectors when it Will be unlawful 10 kill game
or have the same I'D possession. Last year, al
though several deer were killed in tie counties
adjacent TO San Francisco aud shipped into
this city, not single arrest was made. Judg-
ing from the present outlook the Commissioners
VIII have equally as good record credited to
them by September /. Ii Is a well-knOwn fact
that VeniSOn is exposed for sale now in some
of the leading markets and restaurants OF this
city.
A few months ago the attorney for the Board
OF Fish Commissioners. who by the way Is
drawing nice monthly salary for the 'heavy"
work he performs, gave in . bulletin issued by
the Commissioners In reference 10 the deer law
the following opinion:
''lt is a misdemeanOr for a person to have in
his possession any deer at time when IL is
unlawful 10 Kill deer. The code makes il un-
lawful 10 Kill deer except between September
! and october 10. Therefore, while the Super
Ylsors OF Marin county, for example, might for
that county change The open season for killing
deer to The SIX weeks beginning July l, yet If
any sportsman from San Francisco should
shoot deer IN Marin County in July. and lake il
into San Francisco, or any other county where
the general law had not been changed by the
Supervisors he would subject himself 10 prose
cuIlOn.
again. the law, section 626. Penal Code,
forbids The selling or offering for sale of the
hide or meat OF deer. This law the Supervisors
cannot change; therefore, deer meat and deer
hides may not be sold nor offered for sale, nor
may deer shot in one county under an ordi-
nance permitting it there be carried into another
county where the general State law is In force
Il mention these matters, deeming them of
interest to SpoTtSInen."
The above reads very NICE indeed but the
sportsmen OF this city and State would be
pleased o hear of the Commissioners practlc-
ing what they preach. Deer meat Is exposed
for sale In many places in this city, but strange
TO say the Commissioners are either not aware
of this fact or else they cannot discern The diff
ference between veDlsOn AND mutton between
the months OF September and October. Proba-
bly the latter is the more correct.
Ever since Game and Fish Commission wac
introduced to public notice there have been
complaints constantly arriving from the interior
of the slaughter OF fish and game out OF sea
son. The Commissioners say that they are
powerless TO do anything because their appro-
prlati0D is not sufficient to increase the force of
deputies.
At the last session of the Legislature. at the
request of the State sportsmen, the appTOpria-
E lion was Increased, but the same old story con-
tlnues to be told, VIZ: NO protection To game
or fish; no importation of foreign game; no at
teDu0n paid 10 letters informing the Commits
sioners where poachiDg Is being carried on
with high hand.
Now, the question might be asked: what
good are the Commissioners GOing?" and an
swer says that they are stocking rivers with
fishes which either die after they are dumped
into the streams or depart for the salt water,
their native element.
An eminent German ichthyologist and sciep-
tisl once said that simon pure trout Is. fario)
viii die If placed 10 salt wafer, yet the Fish
Commissioners Of this State contend that 1.-The
steel heads" which are now inhabiting streams
which empty Into tue ocean and bays, are
genuine trout. Ii is tile young OF the steel
heads, which are also known as rainbow trout,
tnat the Fish Commissioners are placing IN
various rivers ana streams OF the State.
ii. as previously stated IN The CALL. the
Commissioners would protect the parent fishes
during thiee months OF the spawning season by
employing deputies TO patrol the principal
rivers and streams daily and not monthly there
would be little Use for some of the llateheres
which are only an expense TO The STATE The
hatchery at SlsSon Is certainly a great sdipnct
TO the fisheries of the Sacramento River. as
millions OF young salmon therefrom are planted
i'll the river yearly.
IL Is useless TO expect that the Fish Com
mlssionrts can accomplish much OF any value
TO the State with one patrOlman. AL Wilson Is
We
of fish protection. he Is driven from place to
place like Will o. the wisp, while The more
favored gentlemen OF the staff smile within the
confines OF The city or parade the streets IN VIII
lie-boy dress while their services are needed in
mauy parts OF the interior. Ii the Commission.
cannot accomplish with one man what is
asked of them in The way of fish and game uro-
lection, why do they not employ men who will
not be afraid of getting wetting occasionally
and who will have the courage TO arrest a
poacher when he is detected either spearing
fish or shooting game out of season?
1t is not at all improbable the State Sports
mems Association. which has representatives
In all parts OF the Slate, will have the bandliu Q
OF tnr fish aud game fund after The next meet
ing OF the Legislature. The officers OF the as
ISOLATION thoroughly understand what is best
needed, ana there can be no gaiDsaying that if
they had the funds which the Fish Commission.
ers have at their disposal The streams
would be closely watched aud the game-killers
taught lessons they would not soon forget.
The following is from the Ashland Tidings:
IweiVe pairs OF Chinese pbeasants arrived in
Ashland the first day of the week. consigned TO
Pullman conductor OF the Southern Pacific
Railroad, and destined. il Is understood, for
shipment to Oakland or San Francisco. AS the
Jaw OF Oregon prohibits the shipment of these
pheasants out Of the State, either dead or alive,
neither the express nor railroad COMPANY will
accept them for shipment, and unless they
snail ne sInuggled across the line they viii have
TO be shipped back 10 the consigpor or disposed
OF here. They came by express from Tangent.
The Lincoln Gun Club Will hold their openiug
shoot OF The season on March Is.
The Gun Club Will hold their first shoot of the
season on February %.
JOHN Stack claims the championship of the
season for crane-shooting.
Salmon-fishlng In the tidewaters of Panar.
mill stream IS very poor at present Last Sun
day 6ply thee fish were zen. although tifty-
two fishermen were counted on the banks of The
stream.
s-T<-s