The record-union., 1896-02-29
FISH LADDERS And SCREENS.
The Fish Commissioners Are Enforcing
the Law Regarding Them.
How a Mendocino Juryman Who Killed
aDeer Helped Try the Man Who
Was Caught With It.

At the meeting of the State Board of
Examiners yesterday afternoon the
claims of the Fish Commissioners We're
explained by Chief Deputy Babcock,
and during his explanation, in answer
to questions. ne told the reason Of the
non-success of the Hat Creek fishery,
which failed from lack of water supply
and of eggs for Matching.
The Governor asked if screens had
been placed on the mining bitches in
order to prevent the trout from run
ming out into them.
Mr.. Babcock answered that there
were many bitches that should have
screens and many that should not. The
Commissioners were looking into the
matter
The Governor asked if there was a
fsh ladder at La Grange, and was an
swered that there was not The dam
at La Grange is owned by the Turlock
Water Company, and they are laboring
under an injunction that is dependent
upon the final settlement of the Wright
irrigation bill The dam is ninety-six
feet high. The Folsom dam is eighty
six feet high and the fish ladder lately
put in there is about seventy feet high.
The Commissioners have not yet ac-
cepted the dam and may not do so, as
the plans and specifications provided
for its being built on the other side of
the river, whereas it has been built on
this side, and they are not sure that the
fish can get up through the fioodgates
into the river above the dam.
The Secretary of State asked if, in
Mr.. Babcock's opinion, the matters of
fish and game should be segregated,
and if they could be both handled to-
gether to advantage.
Mr.. Babcock answered that. the ques-
tion had been discussed in the commits
sion, but no conclusion arrived at as
yet. Under the appropriation, as at
present, there was not enough police
power to pay proper attention to both
and for that reason the bill was passed
creating the Office of Game Warden.
The Commissioners had hoped the
counties would see the advantage to
themselves of appointing Wardens and
policing their own jurisdictions. Only
six counties, however, had done so.
Sacramento was one of them, and
through the good work of its Warden
it had been much benefited. Everyone
agrees that game was never so plenty
as this season, because it was properly
protected and convictions were secured.
The Governor asked in regard to
the case in Mendocino County at
Ukiah, and was answered that the
case was fragrant one and had
drawn contumely on the county When
one of the Supervisors was tried for
having a deer in his possession, an at
tcrney for the defense admitted after
the trial that the man who killed the
deer sat on the jury, with the knowl-
edge Of the attorneys for the defense.
OF course no conviction could be had
under such circumstances but it had
good effect after all, for the attorneys
of the county, in order to save its rep
utation, all joined the sportsmen's clubs
and have assured the District Attor-
ney that they will not defend any man
charged with violating the game law
whenever he will assure them that he
has a good case against those so
charged. The law is better observed
and respected there now than ever be-
fore
Last year, Mr.. Babcock stated, the
commission planted 10000 fish; this
year they expect to plant 20000,000,
and next year, if nothing happens to
prevent, they will plant 40.000,000. The
eatch in this State in 1895 exceeded
that for 1894, although the close sea-
son for salmon was a month longer
All along the coast, from California to
Alaska the run is decreasing.
The Governor called his attention to
the fact that at Seventeenth Valley,
six miles above Knights Ferry, there
was ditch and dam without fish lad
der, and he promised to look into the
matter.