The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-26
to be causing the commission so much

to be causing the commission so much
trouble and the deputies so much distress.
Our patrolmen have made many ar
rests, but it is simply impossible to get a
conviction. The guilty parties demand a
jury trial, and the public at large is gen.
orally opposed to the fish and game laws,
and the result is an acquittal on the spot.
The great mass of the people are opposed
to convicting a man for indulging in a lit
tie sport. / know just what l am talking
about, and any sportsman viii tell you
the same thing. They can talk all they
please about enforcing the law, but it is al
most out of the question. The only way
to do it is 10 have a sufficient number of
patrolmen TO prevent it by being present
where the infraction is likely to occur
Right to-day our deputies are doing all
the work that it is possible for men to do.
Mr.. Morrison says nothing has been done
to protect the fish on the Sacramento
River, and that the law is openly and
fiagrantly violated all the time. He has
made that statement to the Governor, and
was advised by Mr.. Budd to do all in his
power to remedy the violation at once
He has never communicated his knowledge
TO the Board of Commissioners, and even
if he had il would have been impossible
for the patrolmen to DO more than they
are doing at the present time. claim that
the commission has done all IN its power
to protect the fish in every way and local
ity possible; and if you will come with me
to the offices of the commission I will
have Mr.. Babcock place in your possession
some letters that will bear me out. l
might argue the point indefinitely, but it
would not have as much weight as the re-
ports hled by our deputies"
THE CALL reporter and Mr.. Murdoch
then went to the offices of the commission
in the Flood building, where Mr. Babcock
was found up to his arms in the mentioned
documents.
Yes" said the head of the patrol de-
partment when asked for information, II
have to-day received several letters from
various points that you are at liberty to
use. There are also some which were filed
here by Mr.. Davis on October l. One in
particular will give you pretty good idea
OF what the patrolmen have to do, and it
will also permit you to see how minute
they are in detail. Here it is; YOU NAV
take any extracts you desire"
Herewith the letter is given in full:
SAN Francisco, Oct. /. 1898.
Hon. Board Of Fish and Game CoDanissi toner's
GENTLEMEN: Herewith submit TO Won nv re-
port for the month of September 1895. on
September / was on the Sacramento and san
Joaquin rivers in the launch Rustler with
Deputy Wilson. We did our best to stop and
detect illegal fishing. We did not make great
VI dIIcSbS, DtChuse we Qlu not ma
violators OF the law. The following is detail
OF every days cruise during the month: On
September l we ran from Antioch to Black
Diamond, Collinsville and down Montezuma
Slough TO Martinez. On the I'd from MARTINEZ
to Port Costa, Benicia, Collinsville and An
uoch. On the Sd from Antioch TO Collinsville
and down MonteZuma Slough TO Martinez On
the 4th from Martinez TO Rodeo and into So
mona Creek, into Napa River, and as far as
Sunol and back TO Martinez, by way of Vallejo.
On the 9th from Martinez to Antioch through
the cutoff. On the 9TH from Antioch to Jerry
Landing and through Three-mile Slough down
Sacramento to Collinsville and back to Antioch.
On the Sth from Antioch to CollinsYIlle, Black
Diamond and back to Antioch. On the 9th
from Antioch TO Seven-mile Slough and Boulder
Island. On the 10th from Boulder Island
through. Three mile Slough to Antioch
On the l1th from Antioch to Martinez, through
cutoh over to Montezuma and Suisun Creek.
On the 18th from Martinez to Vallejo and up
Napa River, through South Slough and into