The record-union., 1895-01-30
FISH AND GAME.
Prominent Citizens Appear Before the
Committee.

Prominent Citizens Appear Before the
Committee.
The Committee on Fish and Game held
meeting yesterday afternoon, Critten-
den Robinson, w. E. Gerber, j. NJ. Morri-
son, J. O. Sherwood, c. n. Post and other
prominent sportsmen being present. Ex-
Fish Commissioner Buckingham was
also present. He is, from his long prac-
teal experience and thorough knowl-
edge of the habits and food supply Of
hsh, as well as Of game, well qualified to
assist the committee in the framing of
the necessary law for protection, and
offered some very valuable suggestions
tOr its consideration.
Section 626 had been subdivided into
sections marked alphabetically by Crit
tenden Robinson at the request of the
committee, and was read and discussed.
MIR. Buckingham said that he thought
there should be something done to pro-
tect the fish as they come into the lower
river. There are about 900 fishing boats
between Clarksburg and the bay. The
fish stay for two or three weeks in the
bay ana around the mouth of the river,
and the cannery men fill up their pack.
lie had known 100 fish caught in one day
there, and the upper river IS thus de-
pleted. He favored the close season from
August lst to September 1st, or later, if
the committee thought best
EX-EiSh Commissioner Sherwood also
spoke to the same effect and said that it
was agreed in the Convention OF Sports
men that the close season should cover
August. The men who are Interested IN
canning meet those interested in the
preservation of salmon every session of
the Legislature and manage to get the
law fixed so that they can have the
inb ia
rich themselves at the expense OF the peO-
pie of the tate, who own the hsh. 4 9
was of the opinion that 1t would be a
benefit to the State if the close season
were made to cover August, Septemb Der
and October. The canning men catch
more fish in August than in any other
month, can them and send them out of
the State. The salmon supply has de-
creased steadily since 1881 in spite of all
the efforts Of the Fish Commissioners,
because the canneries, with their 800
nets, shut off the fish from their natural
spawning grounds.
Mr.. Buckingham said that the 40 and
$50 fathom nets in the lower river had
caused In the last ten years decrease of
80 per cent. in the fish supply OF the
upper river, and there are few fish
caught here now comparatively. The
supply of fish is an important factor in
the food supply of the State. The month
men to belong TO the spring run, which
is the most valuable to them, but it
really belongs TO the fall run.
Mr.. Babcock of the Fish Commission
said that the commission had tried for
years to get close season covering \ u
gust, but the canneries combined and
had sufficient power to defeat it. There
is undoubtedly larger run of fish in
August than in any other month, and in
the early part OF Septem Der the run is
also large. The fish that manage to get
by the nets IN August and early Septem-
Der spawn III Shasta County in October,
he said, and if the law does not make the
close season in October the fishermen at
Tehama Will catch the spawning fish by
the ton. He wanted the fish to get up to
the hatchery SO the Commissioners could
get the spawn and they could hatch ali
the State can build hatcheres for.
Wilkins said his constituents told him
that close season in August would be
fatal to their interests, but they would
help an October close season all they
could.
Ex-Fish Commissioner Sherwood said,
of course, it was tor the interest OF the cam
neries to have the month OF August. tits
the old question between the consumers
and the canneries of whether the Ueople
of the State shall pay high prices for the
fish and let the Gamers catch them and
ship them out of the State. he had met
this question time and again. 1t was a
question of the representatives of the peo-
pie of the State against the ecanners-the in
terests OF the people are at stake. Shall
the Gamers rule? A firm in Sacramento
last year sold ten tons OF catfish at u
cents per pound. Poor men can eat fish
when they are low-prced. In 1888 salmon
could be bought for fifty cents apiece
Now they cost from 81 upward, because
the Legislature has catered to the inter-
ests of the canneries more than to the in
terests OF the people. He had no interest
in this matter except the interest of the
people.
Babcock said that last October there
were 5000 TO 1000 pounds of salmon
caught in the river. Out of q 200 cases
canned by the canneries 5000 were caught
in August. His men took one net out of
the river early in September with 300
fish in it.
Sherwood said the law under consider
alton was drafted by the convention of
sportsmen appointed last year by the
Governor, after thorough investigation
all round. He believed that it was the
best that could be made. The trouble
had always been that the canneries' sack
was too heavy for the sportsmen.
The committee thanked the gentlemen
for the light they had shed on the need
for fish protection and then turned its at
tention to the game of the State.
Crlttenden Robinson said the game
views of the convention were embodied
In the law presented. All legal safe
guards possible had been thrown around
IL. Personally, he had only one obiec-
uon-the $50 fine for violation was too
small. Much expense was entailed in
bringing witnesses and obtaining convic-
tlons ana he thought the fine should be
at least 800. 1t is difficult to procure con-
yictions.
Rowell asked if the prohibition of mar
ket shootlng would not be largely rem
edy.
Robinson answered that it would. He
hesitated to recommend any change in
the bill, but thought $50 small punish
ment for violating law that is so diff
cult to enforce. If the committee could
have seen the body of representative men
81 the convention he thought they would