The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-17
THE ANGLER.
A COUNTY ORDINANCE OF INTEREST
TO THE FISH COMMISSION.

1t is said that an endeavor will be made to
have the opening of the season for trout-fsh-
ing changed from April l to May /. Those who
have taken an interest in the game and fish
ques ton at Sacramento should not forget that
the time has not yet arrived for an extension
OF the closed season. Should the season for
trout-fishing open in May those who reside
contiguous to the streams would reap the bene-
fit of the change, they would fish in April
regardless of a change in the law The idea of
giving the April fish an opportunity of grow
ing large and wise by closing that month to
anglers is good one provided the fishes would
have protection in the month of April.
According TO the present system of protection
closed season amounts to very little good as
both small and large fish are being killed in
every month of the year. The country lad will
be enjoying himself in April, while the city
angler who respects the law must take pot luck
when the season opens in May. The law as it
stands, should not be altered until game war
dens are appointed to patrol the banks and
teach the transgressors of the law that change
for the better in fish protection has arrived.
In an article which appeared last Thursday
on the appointment of Harry Emerlc as Fish
Commissioner Mr. f. Briggs of the Pacific Ken
mel Club was wrongly quoted The latter gen.
tlenan should have been quoted as saying that
he believed the new Fish Commissioner would
make first-class protector of fish and game
and would do we'll by all concerned in the
pastlme OF shooting and fishing. 1t was a
sportsman named d. Higgs who stated that
Mr.. Emeric would lean strongly toward the
owners and lessees of preserves i'll the distri-
buttons of game and fish The correction is
gladly made, however.
The life of a Fish Commissioner cannot be
classed as being entirely free from powders
He has to contend with many things in the
endeavor to carry out the laws of the State so
that all concerned in fishes and fishing will
feel happy. He will find that few convictions
Will follow arrests. He will also find, in his
quest for news and inform alton, that the
country Supervisors have had their fingers in
the fish pie, so to speak, and changed the State
laws to please a class of beings who do not
believe in fish protection of any kind.
Here is a Santa Cruz County ordinance which
is worthy of a monument in honor OF those
who judged it to be an improvement on the
State law 1t reads:
An ordinance for the protection of fish in Santa
Cruz County, and providing penalties for
the violation thereof. The Board of Super
visors do ordain follows:
1t shall be unlawful for any person to take
catch or kill, or expose for sale, or have in his
possession, in the county of Santa Cruz any
speckled trout. brook or salmon trout, or any
variety OF trout between the first day of Decem-
Der and the first day of May in the following
year, except salmon-trout taken with rod and
line in tidewater.
1t shall be unlawful for any person at any
time to take, catch or kill any salmon in the
MYERS, creeks. running streams tida1patarc ~