The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-25
HE BLAMES PATROLMEN
POINT PEDRO HAS NOT BEEN
INSPECTED SINCE LAST
AUGUST.
ALFRED v. La NOTES VIEWS.
IT Is SUGGESTED THAT THE FISH
COMMISSION Is No GOOD
TO CALIFORNIA.

1t is evident from interviews with Com
missioner Murdoch and Patrolman Bah
cock Yesterday that the Fish Commission
ers have unlimited faith in the patrolmen
in their employ. 1t is reasonable to sup
pose that the Commissioners, knowing
that the fish are being caught by the ton
and dried for fertilizing purposes in far
away China, will begin an investigation
ana find out who is TO blame. 1t has been
said that the Chinese who are engaged in
the occupation are never molested by the
proper officers, and the presence of the
piles of drying fish is substantial evidence
that the statement is true.
Commissioner Murdoch admitted that
he did not know of such practice among
the Chinese, and PatroIman Babcock was
in ignorance of the true state of affairs
until informed by CALL reporter. There
are great many charges against the COM
mission that ought to wake that body up,
, even though it only be for matter of self
protection. Men who have been in the
employ of the commission claim that the
Z Mongolians use money to save themselves
& from being molested, and as they are still
DIN the business it makes things look little
Ifishy.
Mr.. Murdoch and Mr.. Babcock claim
that there is not sufficient money to run
the commission properly, which may be
true, but it nevertheless stands that GER
tain accusations have been made that are
not to be laid at the door of the State for
its failure in not providing larger appro-
priation.
Even if California were appropriating
half million dollars annually to support
the Fish Commission it would not con-
done the crime of blackmail.
California is now appropriating ST., 500
per annum to protect and propagate the
fish of the State, but it appears that q
great many of them receive no protection
whatever and the propagation is injured
by the demand of China for fertilizing
material. The Commissioners have
promptly denied all accusations against
the board and offer TO listen TO any com
plants that may be made against them on
the 31st of October, but will they take any
steps to add additional evidence to the
testimony and material that will be offered
on that occasion?
1t is held by many people that the com
mission, under its present methods an6
capital, is almost useless to California
and the State would be better of
If it were abolished. That it needs
more money is evident, and that il
is practically unable TO carry out the func.
tions for which it was created is also clear
but its inability to do the work prescribed
should not justify its attaches engaging in
side occupations that are more lucrative
to them at the illegal sacrifice of severa
millions of young fish daily.
Alfred V. La Motte, who is in the EN-
ploy of the San Francisco and North Pa
citic Coast Railroad, has been following
the fortunes of the food fishes of the Pacific
Coast and fighting for their preservation
for more than thirty years past, and prob
ably knows more about their gradual blu
sure determination than any man in the
State.
In his zeal Mr.. La Motto has accom-
plished things which no Commissions
has ever been able to compass, though te
do so he has called on the deputies of tn,
commission for their evidence.
About year ago Mr.. La Motto begar
to realize that unless the market fisbins
at the mouth of the Russian River wa
stopped the streams which are tributary
to that waterway would become barren O
trout. Almost every steelhead enterins
the river to spawn was taken in the nets
and the trout supply was growing smalle
year by year. The only remedy wa
to procure county legislation, and to tina
end Mr.. La Motto appeared before tn,
Board Of Supervisors of Sonoma COUNTY
and by clear statement of the case an(
by calling upon Chief Deputy Fish Com
missioner Babcock for his evidence OBJ
tanned an ordinance closing the mouth O
the river to market fishermen.
The result was apparent this year in tn
increased number of trout found in tn
tributaries of the river.
Other counties having streams emptyin,
into the ocean are expected to follow So
noma's lead and drive away the rascal
who are depriving the residents of tn
banks of the streams of source of spor
and food supply.
The time has come" he said yesterday
''when reorganization of the presen
system of protecting Pacific Coast fish
must take place, or we may as well throw
up our hands and let them 90 to thei
fate.
1.-THE commission and its resources. a
they are now constituted, are wholly in
adequate to cope with the fish pirates an,
robbers of streams who take every opnor
tunity 10 violate the laws, knowing tina
they can be almost sure of escaping detec
tion or correction.
with reports of illegal salmon-fshin,
from the Sacramento and San Joaouir
rivers and Suisun Bay and rumors O
sturgeon lines covering the mudhats of tn
upper bay, to say nothing of the predato,
bands OF market fishermen who daily VIC
late the law in all parts of the bay, the fou
patroimen are kept on the wing at al
times of the day and night. and while the,
evidently try to do their best they are sim
ply unable to cope with the matter an,