Imperial Valley press., 1920-04-09
FISH AND GAME
Commissioners
STOCK STREAMS
Santa barbara County Aiiot-
ted Large Number Of Trout
Fry; Sporfsmen Cooperate
With State Body.

Santa Barbara county was allotted
last year by the FISH and game COM
mission 100 800 FISH in all, mostly
from the new Mt Whitney Hatchery
in Owens valley. which has not only
attained the remarkable record Of
rearing its baby fish at the rate Of
an inch month, but u still stands
as the most modern trout hatchery in
the world, although several years old.
Sportsmen who co-operated with
Deputies Abels. Barnett and forest
rangers in the planting Of last years
distribution were impressed with the
greater size and vigor Of the Mount
Whitney trout-fry so generally that
a number have expressed a preference
for the output Of this hatchery hence
forth. Such was the plan Of Fish and
Game Commissioner CorNell in estab-
fishing a big central plant under the
limitless Sierran supply Of icy snow
fed waters. The unusual quantity Of
microscopic fsh-food running in with
the Oak Greek water, was something
of surprise to the state fish cultural
experts, closely as they watch and
analyze all such conditions in deter
mining upon the proper location of
hatcheries. The ideal temperature Of
this water during the rearing season
might explain the vigor Of the fry,
but could hardly account for their es-
tablishing as actual fact the theoreti-
cal ideal rate for trout growth which
has been attained for the first time
at Mount Whitney's troughs.
NEW ARRANGEMENT
Heterogeneous of last years dis
tribution plans were enforced by the
prevailing drouth, but worked out to
the decided betterment of the plant
ings. Instead of making deliveries of
seasonal allotments all at once, the
fish car was run all the way through
the up-coast route, putting off a few
cans at each delivery point. This en-
abled the deputies, forest rangers and
the volunteer public spirited sports
men to take the fish up to headwaters
and smaller highland creeks. In this
way the fish were planted to much
greater efficiency. Some little streams
out OF the way were thus given few
hundred fish, probably their fish-rear-
watershed as usual, was given the
major consideration that its excessive
popularity warranted. With a good
auto road traversing its course the
states veteran superintendent of
fish culture, W. H. Shelley, who has
watched natural and artificial propa-
cation of fish in California during 81
years, allotted the Santa Ynez and
Salispuedes Creek 10000 steelhead
fry to help keep pace with the ever
growing demand of the anglers. The
usual planting of salmon was made,
| M inn hn D L
Santa Ynez allotment to build up a
run if possible into Oso Flaco
Stream.
Small creeks on the seaside were
not overlooked. Refugio was given
part of can of steelheads. The
Sisquoc was given good experimental
planting of 5000 Eastern Brook and
5000 Loeb Leven, and Wildhorse
Range Cunson also drew 5000 each.
These consignments were packed in
under direction Of Deputy Abels, in the
interest of diversifying the sport of
anglers, who may expect to make
some new friends, or renew acquain-
tances of old .favorites piscatorial
hepceforth.
q PLANT MANY TROUT
Reyes Creek was planted substan-
tally with $1,000 rainbow. Approx
mately acn each some 1000 apiece,
was carried into the smaller. streams
such as Quota, st. Agnes, Gaberna-
dora, Step, Thomas, Rincon and Cas-
cada creeks. In all 10000 steelhead,
Il, 900 rainbow, 10000 Lach Loven
and 5000 eastern brook trout went to
make up the Santa Barbara total of
nearly 100000 fish.
The extensive lake formed by filling
the Gibraltar Dam already is attract
ing lively and enthusiastic interest
among Santa Barbara anglers, being
certain to derive heavy stocking
from its tributaries this year, beside
what the state may intrust to it. All
this interest is bit premature how
ever, as it takes time to mature big
fish. Therefore the Gibraltar lake
can hardly be expected to furnish
much sport this summer. There is
very. good reason to expect that in
another two years, trout sizeable
enough to test the skill of the ablest
anglers, and the strength of the finest
tackle will abount in these favorable
Woforc