The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-18
new GAME And FISH LAWS.
SUPERVISORS CAN Now APPOINT
DEPUTIES TO HUNT DOWN
P0ACHERS.
A MEASURE WHICH WILL Be
WELCOMED BY ALL TRUE
SPORTSMEN.


Association telegraphed friend from Sac
ramento on Saturday that the revised
game bill had passed both houses, and all
that is now required to make it law is
the Governors signature, which will as
suredly follow.
As already stated in the CALL the old
game bill was dissected last year at con-
vention of sportsmen assembled in this
city, and alterations were made with but
one object in view, and that was for the
protection of game and fish in the interest
of the sportsmen and anglers at large.
The new bill is unquestionably good
one, and it's value to the State will quickly
be proven if those in power will but assist
the w-abiding sportsmen to put stop to
the slaughter of game and fish during the
closed seasons for shooting and fishing.
The CALL was the first paper to suggest
an appointment of game wardens for each
county, as the patrol of the Fish and Game
Commission is totally inadequate to meet
all requirements. The convention took up
the suggestion and approved of it by add
ing that all fines resulting from the arrests
of law-breakers should go into the treasury
of the county in which the arrests were
made.
The bill creating the Office of County
Game Warden was introduced last week
and passed by both houses without meet
ing the slightest objection. 1t will I'M
doubtedly meet the approval of the Cover
nor and then the Supervisors of the several
counties may go about selecting the best
material from among the men who will not
shirk their duty. The Supervisors are EN-
powered to name the salary of the game
warden they may appoint, but it must not
exceed 500 per month.
The old clause of the county Govern
ment bill which allowed the Supervisors of
the counsy to nullify the game laws of the
State and make the open season for the
killing of game to suit the convenience of
those who were in the political swim, has
very wisely been repealed, and in its stead
sensible clause adopted. The new clause
gives the boards the power, when in their
Judgment the existing condition of the
country demands it, to shorten the open
season to such time as they wish, so as to
prevent the sale of game or its shipment
out of the county, or its killing beyond
certain number. But whatever changes in
dates that are made must be within the
dates set by the State law.
Section 627 was the only one which met
with any opposition, but when the legis-
lators learned that the object of the sec
ton was to give the poor class of sports
men an opportunity of shooting ducks
upon land that was unclaimed, they
quickly acquiesced to the wishes of the
Committee on on Fish and Game and their
many friends. The section reads:
Every person who, upon any Enclosed or cul-
tivated grounds which are private property,
and where signs are displayed forbidding such
shooting, except salt water marsh land, shall
shoot any quail, bob-white, pheasant, partridge,
grouse, dove, deer or wild duck, without permits
sion first obtained from the owner or person in
possession of such grounds, or who shall mali
ciously tear down, mutilate or destroy any
sign, signboard or other notice forbidding
rIxyof 70 hnl ho
misdemeanor.
1t will be seen by this provision that
sportsmen can enjoy favorite pastime on
any salt marsh, although the same may be
posted with signs forbidding trespassing.
The gathering or destroying of the eggs
OF quail, pheasant, grouse, dove or robin or
any kind of wild duck is misdemeanor.
The closed season for the killing of doves
is from February 10 to July 1.
The following section will prove interest
ing to deer-hunters. 1t reads:
Every person in the State who shall hunt,
kill or destroy any male deer between the 18th
day OF October and the 18th day OF July Of the
following year shall be guilty of a misde-
meanor. Female deer and spotted fawns must
not be killed at any time.
Another section which will cut off the
market hunters reads:
Every person in this State who shall at any
time buy, sell or offer for SALE the hide or meat
OF any deer, elk, antelope or mountain sheep,
whether taken or killed in the State of Califor-
mia or shipped into the State from any other
State or Territory, shall be guilty of INSIDE
meanor, provided that nothing in this section
shall be held to apply to the hide of any of said
animals taken or killed in Alaska or any for
eign country.
The market hunter receives another
right-hand jawbreaker in the following:
The use of shotguns of larger caliber than
No. 10 gauge is unlawful and the proof of the
possession of such guns in the field, or marsh
bay, lake or stream, shall be prima facie evil
dence OF their illegal use.
Anglers will be interested in the follow
ing changes made for the protection of
game and fish. Any person having striped
bass of less than three pounds IN weight
can be punished. Black bass is protected
between January l and July l. Trout of
any kind must not be taken between the
first day of November and the first day in
April, excepting steelhead trout taken with
rod and line at any time in tide water
Trout under six inches in length must not
be sold Another section which is i'm
portant reads:
Every person who by seine or other means
shall catch the young fish of any species and
who shall not return the same to the water
Immediately and alive, or who shall sell or
offer for sale any such fish, fresh or dried, is
guilty of q misdemeanor.