The record-union., 1896-09-24

Nlcl1On-tO great extent stopping the
use of big guns.
FISH LADDERS.
A fish ladder has been constructed
upon the dam at Folsom which has not
yet been accepted by the commission,
and will not be until all doubt of its
working has been removed. 1t allows
the passage of fish from the pool below
the dam uD into the canal near the
headgates; but the question has been
raised as to the ability of fish to pass
the headgates, as they are now oper-
ated, owing to the outpouring volume Of
water, mad the commission has had no
chance to test them.
A large number of fish ladders have
! been constructed and others inspected
and kept in repair. The construction of
a fish ladder upon the dam in the Tuol-
umne River above La Grange is beset
with engineering difficulties, and as
very few salmon enter the stream to
spawn, the commission think the con-
struction of ladder would be of little
or no benefit to either the people or the
fish
The commission regrets that the law
does not permit it to cause many Of
the old ladders upon the dams in the
Truckee River to be replaced but as
they were built according to plans fur
nished by previous Commissioners, the
matter cannot be rectified until they
happen to be destroyed The attention
of the Nevada Commissioner has been
called to the condition of some of the
ladders and dams in the Truckee
River in the State of Nevada, it being
claimed that fish could not pass over
them in their annual run from Pyramid
Lake, but he has not treated the mat
ter in the considerate manner our mu-
tual interests in this valuable stream
would seem to deserve.
NO MORE SAWDUST.
The dumping of sawdust into the
Truckee River has been stopped, the
Acknowledgement in 1895 having OBJ
tanned an injunction restraining the
Truckee Lumber Company and the
State Line Mill Company from dumping
their mill and factory refuse into the
Truckee River.
Many screens have been placed in
water bitches by order of the board.
put there are many irrigating bitches
where the placing of screens is consid-
cred unnecessary and inadvisable.
The Importance of the work in South
ern California and Humboldt County
has made it advisable to keep a man
stationed at each of these localities dur
ing certain seasons, and has resulted
in better observance of the fish and
game laws.
ENEMIES OF THE LAW.
The provisions of. the game law al
lowing the sale of game birds but two
months in the year, while it is legal to
shoot them four months is indisputably
good law, although it has been called
class legislation, and has made some
enemies to the game law. However un-
just the claim may be that it is discrim-
1hation in favor of sportsmen it cannot
be denied that an adverse public SEN
t1ment has been aroused as evidenced
by the discharge of offenders tried in
the Police Court Of San Francisco.
1t is an undisputed fact that the
game Of this State is decreasing 1t
therefore needs protection, not only in
this State, but in Alaska. where the
destruction of wild fowl eggs does more
to decrease the abundance Of ducks
than does the hunting them here Our
game is too valuable a resource not to
receive the consideration it demands
at the hands of our people, but until
all classes are united for the common
purpose Of protection, a law like the
present one only serves to incite the
aggrieved parties to disobey it, and that
leads to infringement Of other laws.
The law does not place the restriction
upon the market hunter that is claimed
for 1t, as many birds are from the
opening of the shooting season. placed
in cold storage until such time as they
can legally be sold.
Complaints against the workings of
the law have been made from all parts
of the State
The commission recommends that re-
strictons upon the sportsman and the
market hunter be made alike. 1t is
aware that this will be opposed by
some sportsmen, but thinks the law will
then receive public approval and end
the effective cry before a jury that it is
legislation for the sportsman against
the people, and the sportsmen do not
care to protect the game except for
themselves and not for food supply
SAN FRANCISCO JURIES.
The report scores the San Francisco
juries before whom cases We're brought
]
buying and selling of game, both be-
fore and after the season allowed by
law. In spite of the most conclusive
evidence introduced by the Deputy At
torney- General, the jurieS repeatedly
returned verdicts of not guilty, and the
Police Judges finally refused to place
more cases on their calendars, stating
that they were satisfied that although
the evidence was conclusive, conviction
could not be had under the law. So
sure We're the marketmen of the result
of all arrests, that but little effort was
made to conceal their violation of the
| law, and almost anyone, unless a rec
ogniZed officer, could buy game birds
at any time. Some dealers were will
| ing to observe the law, but We're
| obliged to do as the others did or lose
their customers.
GAME WARDENS.
In the counties where Game Wardens
have been appointed the success of the
| system has been fully demonstrated.
| The people observe these laws and de-
| mand their enforcement, and the courts
have supported the Wardens in their
administration. 1t is unfortunate that
| more Boards of Supervisors have not
| been sufficiently alive to the value of
| these interests and appointed Game
Wardens.
a; :;::: {: =: ): 80