The record-union., 1896-09-24
IHE STATES GAME AND FISH.
Continued from Fifth Page,

IL -
ports come in of the large number of
theSe fish seen far up the Sacramento
ana San Joaquin Rivers, in places where
they have rarely been seen for years
II is thought these fish being now able
10 reach natural spawning grounds un-
molested, WILL in a few years, come into
the markets in increasing instead of di-
Inlnlshlng numbers. The abolition of the
use of the sturgeon hook, which kills
kne small as we'll as the large fish of this
species, as well as all others, should
quickly help to increase the productive
ness of this fishery The receipts OF
sturgeon for the first three months of
this year were 79,761 pounds.
TROUT FISHING.
The principal market supply Of trout
continues to come from the Lake Tahoe
region. In 1895 2S.750 pounds of cut
throat trout We're caught in Lake Tahoe
and shipped from Truckee. The figures
for 1896 are not yet obtainable.
LAKE TULARE.
In 1893 fishing was again resumed in
Lake Tulare, after an interval of sew
eral years, during which time the Sac
ramento River perch have rapidly in
creased in abundance. The commission
made plant of black bass, yellow
perch and sun fish in this lake in May
1896, and ordinances were passed by the
Supervisors of King and Tulare Coun-
ties, prohibiting fishing with nets. The
numbers of pounds of Sacramento River
perch taken in this lake in 1895, ac-
cording to the figures furnished by the
United States Commission, was 23,309.
SPINY LOBSTER.
rI,n 1N1H f;,l,
ing very rapidly and under the present
laws it is well protected from depletion.
1t is recommended that the Legislature
amend the law so as to specify mini
mum measure instead of minimum
weight. In 1892, 12S, ,425 pounds of
Holsters We're taken in Los Angeles
County. In 1895, 143, 73S pounds We're
taken.
STEEL HEAD TROUT.
The commission refers to the test case
made by the San Francisco market men,
under the claim that these fish having
the habits of salmon must therefore be
salmon and not trout. The commission
maintains upon the advice of such high
authority as David Starr Jordan and
Charles H. Gilbert of Stanford Univer-
Sity that they are trout. The evidence
submitted was SO conflicting that the
Police Justice dismissed the case. AS
the law was framed and passed with the
idea of giving these fish the necessary
opportunity to reach their spawning
grounds in the headwaters of the coast
streams, the commission thinks that q
sufficient number would do so even if
an open season of three months were
made during the period Of their run.
CRABS.
The fishery shows that this species of
shellfish is gradually becoming more
scarce. The protection of this branch
of the fishery industry should receive
the attention of the Legislature, and the
commission makes recommendation that
should help to restore a fishery, worth,
In 1892, S102, 900.
FISHERY PRODUCTS.
About 100000 pounds of fresh fish
are handled annually in the San Fran
cisco markets, exclusive of those in the
Chinese markets. Large quantities of
oysters, CLAIMS, muscles, shrimp and
crabs are also sold. 1t is said that over
215 species of fish are found in the
waters of this State, although many of
these are not used s food except by the
Chinese. The catch of salmon was SO
large this year at Monterey Bay that a
cannery was opened.
In 1895 a cannery was opened at San
Pedro for canning sardines, Holsters,
mackerel, barracuda, etc. and give
great promise of enormously increaS-
ing the output, but unfortunately was
completely destroyed by fire last June.
The sardine -cannery at East San Pedro
has been in continual operation and is
very successful. The San Diego fisher
les are the only ones in the State which
show falling off. This is due in a large
part to their limited market.
EXPORTS.
The export trade in fishery products,
according to figures furnished by United
States Customs officials in San Fran
cisco. were for 1895. S2,5S3. 46S. as
against s.. .O-53. .9S1 in 1894, 1919, 14O in
1893, and So. 165, 106 in 1892.
WORK IN PROTECTION.
II has been impossible to the COM
mission to cover all the territory under
its jurisdiction for the enforcement Of
the laws A number of its men is linn
ited by the funds at it's command. but
they have been so placed that the best
service has been rendered TO the i'm
portant interests placed in their charge.
Great attention has been given to the
suDerv.sion and protection of the
salmon fisheries. An effectual Patrol
of the bays and rivers has beer main
taincd during the close season The
number of arrests made has not been
large. because such heavy fines have
been imposed under the present laws
that the fishermen do not care to take
the chances Of being caught and con-
vscted.
Thousands Of feet of sturgeon lines
the use of which is prohibited by law
have been taken up and never been
claimed No gear is more destructive
Of fish of every kind, and the COM
mission Is determined to break up its
use. The laws regarding the run o:
steel heads on Russian River have beer
effectually enforced, and the patrol
made numerous arrests. The trout
streams, especially those nearest San
Francisco, were patrolled through the
close season, and illegal fishing prac-
fically stopped. Several parties have
been punished for using explosives, al
though it is very hard to detect them
and obtain sufficient proof to convict
the Offenders A deputy was kept ir
the field in the San Joaquin Valley dur
ing a great part of the shooting season
of 1893 and 1896 to enforce the law pro
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