The San Francisco call., 1896-01-11
From a photograph

amusement to those who are availing
themselves of the opportunities of hook
ing and playing some of the game fishes
which are loafng in the deep pools of the
stream and waiting an opportunity to
ascend to the higher waters.
Last month the steelheads were caught
prin cipally oy means OF trolling, but
anglers who have recently returned from
the happy 1ishing-grounds state that a red
fly balted with a shrimp is the most kill
ing lure. Occasionally salmon roe proves
to be tempter.
As the indications for a rainstorm are
favorable it is safe to say that the sport
which has been enjoyed for six weeks or
more on the Russian is near the end
The Paper-mill Creek which in past
seasons contained many large fish at this
season OF the year, is almost as low in
water now as it was in the months OF
July and August last. Doubtless hun
dreds OF large steelheads are at this writ
ing. loafing in Tomales Bay, where they
Will remain in deep water until the arrival
OF the long-eXpeCted freshet. Some small
hsh have been caught in the deep pools
near the white House" and ''Sandspit' -
and III all probability some of the large
trout pass in and out with the tides. ana
may be taken by anglers if the latter should
be on guard when the fish are on the run.
A letter has been received at this office
from K. Il. Penny of nuncans Mills stat
ing that the Deputy Fish Commissioners
who are at present located at Duncans are
giving more attention to angling for steel
heads than to the capture of fishermen
who are seining the river. Penny is par
ticularly ANXIOUS 20 draw Deputies Wilson
ard Cox over the Goals, but the records of
these deputies prove beyond argument
that they are more dreaded by ''the net
fishermen than any of the deputies now
III the employ of the commission.
In reference to an article which ap-
peared recently concerning a RAID that was
made by Wilson on some fishermen who
were Seining near the mouth of the river
Penny says:
defy this man Wilson to prove that ever a
gun was shot off at him, or that he was ever
obStructed in any way while sneaking around
at all, could be done in the open light of day
No, sir, he was never shot at; had he been
he would not be here, enjoying himself at the
taxpayers expense. Two or three years ago
tull grown hoodlum mot a fisherman) shot
holes into boat tied 10 the bank and Wilson
took credlt IN the papers as standing bravelv
up, ike Oliver Hazard Perry, at the battle OF
Lake Erie, while bullets Wore flying thickIv
about him. He knows as well as every citizen
here that at that time he was two miles away
10 be Fish Commissioner is sinecure. who
has better time? They fish the year in fish
the year through and fish the year out This
man j. + Babcock comes here often; what
ermen must not criticize. Babcock is vigilant;
Babcock is az honorable and conscientious
commissioner. Green Watson, another deputy
Is also extremely vigilant He lives on Austin
Creek and he sees that no one fishes that
stream but Green; and Green is not very par
ticular whether it it is the close season or not
BaDcock, IN the line of his official duty would
do well TO watch Green little, yet Green is an
honorable and conscientious commissioner.
Now, Mr.. Editor this fish business is all mag
nlhed and exaggerated. You and your readers
only know one siIe and judge US wrongly The
facts are distorted and put us in bad light.
NO one wishes TO violate the law. No one,
would they take q sober second thought but
what would see that it is an unjust law, and
trust the next Legislature will so modify it
that all may have the benefit of food fish that
can only be caught at this season of the wear
There has been this season not over fifteen or
twenty different individuals with hook ard
line patrolling this river in this vicinity for the
steelhead. While every stream that emptes
into the ocean, from the Bering Sea to the Gulf
OF California, is teeming with millions of them
ana an lnexhaustible supply still back in the
old Pacific, yet they are Kept for the benefit of
the sportsmeu who are but few, while the
thousands in your City are deprived of an ex-
cellent and cheap food fish, which God in his
abundance placed in the sea and decreed that
they were for the benefit of man.
The following anglers visited Duncans
Mills last week and returned with fish:
Myers i. Wilson Z, Fitzgerald /, Marcus 2,
Butler 6, Cross 4, Mcfarland 5. "Doc'
Simpson l, Charles Green l, Babcock 3.
Dr. Won Hoffman, Otto Muser Nat Tur-
ner. John Gallagher and John Butler left
this week for a final whip at the Russian.
and their friends will be greatly disap-
pointed If they return without many
fishes.
The members OF the San Francisco Rod
and Gun Club have been notified that their
next banquet will be held at the popular
sportsman's resort, 16 Market street, on
the evening of Tuesday, the 2lst inst
Some of the anglers and sportsnen of the
club who had not provided either fish or
game ior banquets of the past are re-
auested 10 make showing of feathers
and fish on this occasion.
The following telegram was received on