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


is speedily done in the premises the
natural game preserves of the State will
become barren of game life owing to acts
of unchecked vandalism which without
doubt are being perpetrated throughout
the State. 1t is source Of infinite grief
to the true sportsman. This feeling on
the part of the sportsnen is the deeper
owing to the fact that proper laws prop
erly administered would preserve the
game within the confines of the State for
all time to come.
The market-hunter and fisherman is no.
tor1ously shortsighted. He fails to under
stand the law of increase and looks only
at the profits Immediately in sight, nor
can any amount of argument educate him
to better understanding. The sportsmen
declare that the laws should be stringently
enforced without fear or favor for the pro-
lection of the market-hunter as we'll as
the true lover of the rod and gun. The
very TACT that the game OF Sacramento
county has received such efficient protec-
ton during the past season and has in
creased~wlth more rapidity than ever be-
fore known through the efforts of our de-
termined deputy, seems to be prima facie
evidence that the wholesale violation of
the law, as expressed through the columns
OF The CALL. can certainly be put an end
to should proper deputies be employed.
In speaking of the matter Governor
Budd, who is himself sportsman of
sportsmen, said:
THE CALL is all right, and am glad that this
matter has been openly ventilated, If such
gross attractions of the law are taking place,
and see no cause to doubt the truth of the
sermons. 1t must cease, even II stringent
methods have to be employed. have read the
statement of Commissioner Morrison, and
have written him on the subject l have also
written the members of the commission in
San Francisco, and will personally lend them
every aid in my power to bring all offenders to
justice. l do not think that the blame lies so
much with the members of the commission as
1t does with their deputies. At all events l
shall make thorough investigation of the
matter and take immediate steps to have the
evil obviated For some weeks past l have
been investigating the subject during my sick
ness and while domiciled on the Polliwog in
Suisun Bay was visited by several fishermen
who pointed out several seeming inconsist-
encies in the fish and game law, and l directed
that copy of the following letter be forwarded
to every Sheriff throughout the State:
SACRAMENTO, October 4, 1895.
Sir: Would you be kind enough to furnish
the Governor with the information and make
| the suggestions in reply to the following ques-
| tions:
First-How have the fish and game laws
| passed by the late Legislature operated in
your county, and what, If any, changes therein
| would you suggest?
Second-Haye said laws been generally en-
| forced and obeyed in your county?
| Third-Has there been any open or extensive
violations of these laws, and If so in what par
| ticulars, and what endeavors have been made
| to punish the offenders?
AS Sheriff you have the opportunity, per-
sonally and through deputies and Consta bles,
| OF gaining the information desired, and the
Governor would consider it favor if you
would furnish the same as early as possible.
E. d. MCCABE, Private Secretary.
have received answers from many OF these
officials which as yet prefer not to make
public Many of them contain some very ex-
cellent suggestions, especially those relating to
preservation of deer. AS the law stands at
present the open season begins while the male
of this species are lying in the higher noun
tain elevations, and at the outset many does
and fawn slaughtered by mistake. Later
in the season the bucks frequent the valleys
| and the does retire to the mountains, and this
should be the proper time to fix upon for the
| open season. AS for the alleged infractfon of
the fish laws shall insist that the commits
| sion take active steps to punish the offenders
The only difficulty is the smallness of the ap-
preparation applicable to this purpose.
| R. J. Irvine OF the Bureau of Highways
who is also an enthusiast on all matters
| relating to field sports, said:
| 1 am fully in accord with MI Morrison on
| this subject, and I believe that stringent
methods should be employed to put stop to
| any further violation of the law. / was prob
| ably the first person in the State to advocate
| the formation of laws for the protection of
game throughout the State, and the way the
| matter was brought to my attention was this:
| In the early seventies l conducted q saddlery
| establishment in Sacramento, and one day an
| old hunter came to my place with ESQ deer
| hides for sale. In sorting the pelts 1 happened
to inquire what became of the carcasses, and
he informed me that he left them where they
! fell to become food for the coyotes. 1 could
| Immediately perceive the possibility of the
! utter determination of the deer throughout
| the State, and 1 mentioned the facts
| to an intimate friend, who was a men,
| Der of the Legislature then in session.
| He, agreeing with me on the subject.
drew up bill which was passed without cavil.
have always interested myself in game pres
! ervation from that time, and am earnest in
| my assertion that the very efficient fish and
| game laws now in vogue should be strictly en-
| forced. l fully believe that every word pub
| lished In THE CALL as to the infraction of the
| laws is absolute truth, and in my travels over
the country, in the interests of the Bureau of
| Highways, l have had gross attractions OF
the Inv brought under my personal observa-
ton, notably was the fact at Knights Ferry
| and MERGED Falls, as at both places 1 saw
| salmon which had been captured with spears.
| / believe the real solution of the matter is to
employ a class of fearless, resolute deputies,
recompense them literally and transfer them
! from time to time to various portions of the
State as their identity becomes known to the
| law-breakers of any one locality. When an
arrest is made have the offender prosecuted to
the full extent of the law.
| Warden Charles Aull said:
| In my opinion the fish of California are
| doomed, and it is but matter of few years
| when all the species which seek the head
waters of the various rivers of the State for the
purposes of propagation will become extinct.
There is at the present day hardly river
| whose course Is not INSTRUCTED with q dam
which makes it an impossibility for the fish to
reach their breeding grounds, and unless effec-
tive steps are taken at once to provide some
remedy for this evil, it means extinction. 1t is