The San Francisco call., 1897-01-23
constant practice evenings. 1t will be
great show. SPALDING.
THE ANGLER.
Deputy Fish Commissioner Cross
Captured Net In Russian

Captured a Net In Russian
River.
In last weeks angling department an
nouncement was made that the net fisher
men who ply their vocation at the mouth
of the Russian River were using nets the
meshes of which are smaller than the law
allows. The result of this expose was that
on Wednesday last Deputy Fish Commits
sioner Cross seized net which was
stretched in such manner across the
river as TO prevent any of the fishes-steel-
head trout-from ascending the stream.
II is hoped that the owners OF the net
will make application for it. Certainly
they should do so if they are of the opin-
ion that they were not transgressing the
laws OF the State. But they know better.
and the result will be that the net will
remain Sat ease" until IL rots before a
claimant puts in an appearance. Deputy
Cross has done valuable service while in
the employ OF the commission, and 1t Is
hoped that he will continue to rid the
river of such distractions to the breeding
fishes as are inimical to the good work
which the State Fish Commissioners are
striving hard to mplish.
Deputy Commissioner Davis returned
from Point REYES last Thursday and re-
ported at headquarters that he had
watched carefully by sunlight and moon.
light for the fishermen who had been
netting steelheads in the lagoon at the
mouth of Paper-mill Creek without result
"All that l could discern that had any
resem blance to poachers under the light
Of the silvery moon," said DAVIS, were
two old tree-stumps, which are lodged on
the bank of the creek not far distant from
tle 'sandspit,' and l guess some fellow
who mad imbibed pretty freely at the
point imagined when on his way TO his
country residence that the stumps in
ques ton were fishermen, and then circu-
lated the report tnat net fishing was going
on at night"
Possibly the tree stumps may have at
tracfed the attention of some bucolic who
was feeling gay during the week past, but
it is fact. nevertheless, that the fisher
men were seen in the act of seining steel
heads near the sandspit, and no better
authority can be introduced than Billy
Kittle OF the Country Club, who witnessed
the seining of the stream in the com pany
of a gamekeeper Of the club. Thomas
Irvine, a trainer of hunting dogs, also
witnessed the seining OF the creek in the
early morning about two weeks ago, and
when the fishermen saw him approaching
they pulled up their net and rowed down
the bay, evidently surmising that he was
Deputy Fish Commissioner.
1t is presumed that when Davis lodged
at Point Reyes on a hunt for poachers
word was dispatched to the fishermen to
be on their guard ana they wisely avoided
q clash with the determined deputy. An
occasional visit to Point Reyes may place
the deputy in position TO secure cap
ture when his presence in the vicinity is
not looked for.
Anglers are having good sport in the
Russian River, and John Gallagher still
holds the championship for having landed
the greater number of fish this year. Last
Sunday the anglers who were trolling for
steelheads enjoyed splendid feast on the
rivers bank.
The first fish of the day was caught by
Mrs. Wilson, and the ladv cooked it on
the sands of time. Needless to remark
that it was thoroughly enjoyed by those
present, among whom were John Butler,
Captain G. Watson, M. L. Cross, John
Gallagher, w. r. Mcfarland. c. II. Linn,
J. NJ. Kalioch, John Schloen, Louis Loux,
g. w. Morgan and Judge Evans.
The river is now in the finest condition
possible, and doubtless there will be a
rush of anglers 10 Duncans Mills to-day.
Three fishes were caught last Sunday at
Point Reyes. A young man named
ANDY" landed two, and a stranger who
visited the point for the first time hooked
and landed a beautiful sLeehead that
scaled sixteen and half pounds.