The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-25

above criticism.
at is said that we have stocked private
ponds, which is not true. We have stocked
the Spring Valley lakes, and everybody
around San Francisco who cares to fish
has enjoyed fishing there. The lakes are
near San Francisco and there is no privacy
about them. You asked me if we stocked
the ponds OF the Country Club. No. They
got all their spawn from the East and we
never gave them fish. We have printed
on our blanks, No fish will be supplied to
private ponds and everybody knows of
this rule. Some years ago we settled that
point and it has always been observed.
''If these charges amount to anything let
the men who make them come before the
commission on the 31st and we will give
them all the opportunity and assistance
they require to prove Them
John ?. Babcock, who is really the execu-
tive officer of the board, was much more
concerned about the matter than his supe-
rior officer and seemed to ia Ike it quite to
heart.
81 do rot understand" he said, 'why
such glazing charges are made against the
Fish Commissioners and myself. OF course
l was not directly charged with anything,
but as | am really the channel through
which all the minor business is conveyed
to the Commissioners, feel that IHhave
been badly treated really consider it a
shame that the matter should be so lightly
treated when the truth is not known.
Il have been with the commission five
years. L attend to the patrolmen, the
hatcheries, the shipment of spawn and
fish and am directly responsible for
various things that might arise in the
transaction of business with the commits
sion. The patrolmen under my charge
are honorable and experienced men, and l
do not believe that any of them would be
guilty of blackmail. l see by THE CALL
this morning that former deputy claims
to have made about $500 month to per-
NIT the Chinese to catch and dry small
fish in enormous quantities, but care is
taken to avoid mention of the mans
name. l should like very much to know
who he is for do not believe that such q
thing is possible. If the impression goes
abroad that past deputies demanded
tribute from the Cinnamon what is to
prevent the people from thinking that a
similar practice is in vogue among the
present deputies. / see that Mr.. John
Ennis says that The Chinese used to pay
tribute to the patrolmen, and he hints
that as the business is fourishing it looks
as though they were still paying cash fol-
silence l do not know Mr. Ennis tC
speak of, but l do know that he wanted to
get position under the present commits
sion not long ago and failed.
when were you at Point Pedro last
Mr.. Babcock?"
"July 90"
"Were there any evidences of young fish
having been taken to dry? Did you see
piles of them as pictured in The CALL OF
yesterday"
"Not the slightest. There was nothing
to show that such practice was in vogue.
There were plenty of shrimps, and the
small fish which are bound to get in the
nets were returned to the water by the
Chinese as they had been instructed. In
fact, have never seen the stack of dried
fish referred to in THE CALL, and did not
know they were Mere until Mr.. White, a
CALL reporter, told me he had seen them
himself"
do you believe Mr.. White?"
Eyes, do. He was my guest on trip
up the San Joaquin not long ago, and 1 dc
not doubt his word"
How do you account for the fish there
| now?"
at is probably because patrolmen are
busy protecting the salmon in the San
Joaquin and Sacramento rivers and Suisun
Bay. They have been engaged there night
and day for the past few weeks, and we
have had no guards on the coast Mr.
Davis and Mr.. Mcfarland have been taken
off the patrol and are not engaged now
Mr.. Wilson is in Suisun Bay, and 1 have
just returned from the headwaters of the
San Joaquin River where we have been
putting mp new hatchery at Battle Greek
Tehama County. Thus it will be seen thai
we have had no men to patrol the Chinese
camps. We are hampered by lack Of
| men and money to carry out the fish and
game laws, and whenever we are absent
| from points that need attention 1 have no
doubt the law is deted."
Who was the last patrolman at Point
| Pedro?"
"Mr. Davis. He was there in August
and reported that everything was all right.
l believe he told the truth"
WAS the prohibited sturgeon gear much
| in use?"
at has been used considerably, but we
have captured a good deal of it. We cap
tured 800 feet of it in Honker Bay, and |
still have it in my possession. 1 have nc
doubt the Chinese use it whenever it is
possible, but We are stopping great deal
| of it.
| 81 am satisfied of one thing, and that is
that the commission is hampered by the
lack of funds to properly operate. In New
York State they have $l25 600 and we are
six times larger. We have SIT 500 per an
mum, and at the present time we are
economical in all our movements. We dc
all it is possible to do in the matter of pro.
tecting and propagating the fish, and the
scarcity of patrolmen is no fault OF ours
We have Matched in the last year owe,
$4,000, 900 spawn as against 100000 of the
| previous year. All of those things are ap
parently overlooked, and the slightest
loophole through which we can be assaiIed
is entered and our regulations are ma
| ligned. l have done the best could, a:
have others of the commission, and
have the satisfaction of knowing that