The San Francisco call., 1899-04-16

san Lorenzo with very poor success.
,,.nesI5 nelr complaint was that the trout
no bait TO tempt the denzens
- Alexander Balm fished on the Calaveras
STsek last week, landing a few fair sized
nSh. de says that the stream is alive
with small fish and that quite q number
OF sood sized trout are in the deep pools,
Dut that they would not take any kind
worm ~ i9 ~
Phil Bekeart. H. McAIurchv. DIR. f. n.
snort and families departed from this CITY
yesterday Tor a two-week outing in the
WHO'S or Mendoctno County. Every sports
man III the State who has snapped at a
plseon-animate or inanimate-from a
trap Is acquainted with either Bekeart or
AcMurchy. Sufficient to say that they
are champions Of the game of pull and
nit, out so far as trout fishing is con-
cerned there are many disciples of Walton
VINO VIII be surprised to learn that the
crack pigeon grassers have on this occa-
sion discarded the gun for the rod. Bek-
cart contends that he is as clever with
the rod as he Is with the iron instrument
and can easily discern the difference be-
tween a Dolly Warden and Loeb Leven
or steelhead trout, but McMurchy is mod
est and contends that people do not live
long enough on this earth TO become mas
ters of two games DR.. Short although
an authority on the kind of angling that
pertains to the sea, does not profess to
nave wide kpQwledge of the habits or
characteristics OF anadromOus fishes, con-
sequently he will avoid as far as possible
any discussion that may arise during the
outing relative to the varieties of fresh
water fishes that are indigenous to the
rivers and streams Of Mendocno County.
The sportsmen are, however, supplied
with divers kind of tackle that should
tempt the most eXacting Bekeart Dolly
Warden to sample. Lures Of the feathered
kind or that which Phil used during mess
when boy, commonly called a spoon,
will be tried on many streams which are
far distant from the common herd of
local stream trampers.
William Meyers of Cazadero, charged
with fishing by means of dynamite in
Austin Creek, was held for trial last Mon
day at Santa Rosa in the Superior Court.
with bail fixed at $500. This is the right
move in the right direction.
The Vallejo Chronicle goes after the
poachers in this manner It says;
1t has been reported to some of our sport
loving citizens that the guilty parties (mean-
ing the owners and users OF the captured and
destroyed net) hail from Napa, and 1t is fur
ther said that Green Valley trout are openly
sold in Napa markets. 1t is a shame that these
poachers cannot be caught in their work and
given the punishment they SO richly deserve.
The Fish Commission refused a couple Of
years ago 10 supply any more hsh to Napa
County because of the illegal fishing there,
which the authorities made no attempt to sup
press. Now that their streams no longer fur
lano County to poach on the preserves where
Nallejoites have insured good sport TO legiti-
mate fishermen we are also toi dthat giant
powder has been used in Wild Horse Valley
dam.
The Supervisors of Marin County. at
a meeting held last Thursday, took no
for stopping the shipment of game or fish
out of Marin County. In fact, the pro-
posed ordinance is a dead feature.
The following letter from a prominent
angler of Santa Cruz County will be read
with much interest by the lovers of trout
fishing:
Editor Call: party of friends and have
Just returned from first trout outing for
this season We had good luck, although the
fact is noticeably evident that trout are be-
coming more scarce each succeeding year. yet
there are no better trout streams in this State
than those of Santa Cruz County.
AS we sat around the campfire at night dis
cussing the matter, we all attributed the cause
Of this scarcity of trout to the month of COM
rnencernent OF the open season, because of the
females caught on this first trip we found near
~ every one full Of spawn. Now, for every one
of such fish caught, hundreds of prospective
fish destroyed at the same time. There
are probably thousands Of anglers out after
these beauties and the destruction Is increased
AT the present rate of decrease-and speak
from careful observation and personal expe-'
rience-but few years Will elapse until our
hatcheries will be required to double the
amount OF stock placed in the streams. Could
trout be May instead Of April as at present,
ALI this needless waste and destruction would
be avoided.
extended the open season from November / to
December !, in order TO include salmon trout.
which is ali right concerning trout of which
speak; but the gentlemen have no power to
change the opening month of the season.
-The idea has occurred to that If sports
men all over the State would concern them.
selves about this matter and present the facts
TO the members Of the Legislature. the open
ing month for trout might be changed from
April TO May instead, and while that would
delay our sport a month every year, IL would
also increase our catch and assist nature and
the hatcheries at the same time.
True sportsmen cannot help feeling guilty
when taking trout in the month of April. al
though such fishing is entirely lawful Yours
for good trouting F. COATES.
For the information of the writer and
those interested In shooting and fishing
the State Legislature of two years ago
gave Supervisors of the counties the
bower to shorten the fishing and game
seasons at their pleasure, but they must
not extend them.