The San Francisco call., 1909-03-28
NIMRODS PLEASED
BY CHANGE
IN LAWS
Anglers and Hunters Satisfied
With Legislation on Fish
and Game
By Frank O'DonneH

III ain " OOkACB
Now that the legislature has ad-
journed and the fate of the numerous
measures affecting the fish and game
laws of the state has been decided. the
uneasiness among the fishing and hunt
ing fraternities has not only been ban
1shed, but has been replaced by feel
ing of genuine relief and general salts
faction. The efforts OF the committee
sent from here to the state capital by
the California anglers association at
the beginning of the session have been
productive of excellent results, for be-
sides securing much needed remedial
legislation the members of the commit
tee, individually and collectively, pre-
vented the passage Of measures which
would have put serious restrictions on
hunting and fishing had they been en-
acted into laws.
A hard fight was experienced over the
bill presented by Senator Willis making
1t an offense to fish for trout with
salmon or steelhead roe. This bill was
awaiting gubernatorial action when the
associations representatives left Sac
famento, but Governor Gillett assured
them that he would not under any cir
cumstances sign 1t, as 1T would deprive
too many fishermen of sport. 1t is said
on good authority that the governor
remarked that such law might disturb
the spirit of old John Butler, an old
time angler who in his lifetime Jour
neyed annually to the Eel river and who
was we'll known in the chief executives
home county. In order to provide
against the unexpected, however, the
Dill was amended at the>instance of the
1Ht tn ragIT I'D a. rIfw1nr
in brackiSh waters
1t has been rumored around the city
that section 634 of the penal code, per-
tanning to trout and whitefish had
been changed and that the season would
open April l instead of May /. This
rumor is without foundation, as that
particular section remains intact A
provision is added, however, making it
unlawful for individuals to carry the
fish out OF the state. The season for
steelhead trout fishing in coast streams
opens April l and extends to November
Is, after which date they may be taken
In tide water until February I. A close
season on this fish prevails in February
and March, both in stream and tide
taken except with hook and line, and
the individual limit per calendar day is
| fixed at so fish, the catch not to exceed
| so pounds in weight Golden trout,
which had heretofore been protected at
| all times, may be taken from June to
| September l to the number of 20 a day.
No weight limit is fixed for this species,
| but, as with other trout. fish measuring g
! less than five inches in length can not
be caught and retained The law gov
erning sturgeon is also modified 80 that
/ fish weighing 25 pounds or more may be
/ legally caught.
a vigorous and successful fight against
the commercial interests for a close
| season on shrimps during the months of
June, July and August. This fight was
n
small fish, including thousands of un-
dersized striped bass, were being taken
annually by Chinese shrimp fishermen.
! Numerous other changes, including q
close season on striped bass and crabs
and bill making it unlawful to have
| in possession dressed catfish under
eight inches in length, were put
through at the instance of the Anglers
association.
An amendment to section 627, which
sought to make It misdemeanor for
without permission, was quashed In
committee through the efforts of
| George Wentworth, chairman of the
anglers committee. and an effort to
nets across two-thirds of the mouths
OF streams was also defeated.
Many important changes have been
made In the game hunting laws. The
open season for deer will commence
August instead of July 15, as here
tofore, and win. extend two weeks
| wy biiC SkOSiHS OdtO VI PAVNlOuc
years The season for ducks Is un-
changed, but the bag limit is reduced
| to z5 per calendar day. The limit on
quail, doves snipe, curlew. ibis, plover
and other shore birds Is reduced from
| 25 to 20 per day. The season for val
ley quail opens on October l and ex-
pires on February 1, and the season for
Wilson snipe extends from October
to April !.
A limit has also been placed on black
sea brant, and no more than 25 of these
fowls can be killed in one day. No sea-
son is fixed for this game. The legisla-
ture has also made 1t unlawful to use
animals as blinds for approaching wild
water fowl for the purpose of shooting
at same, but this law does not forbid
the use of dogs. This will effectually
check the bull market hunter. who
| has been in the habit of using cattle
as a blind in killing geese. Another
new law which is pleasing to sports
men is that which forbids the shooting
Of ducks from launches or any craft
propelled by gasoline or other power
while the vessel is in motion.