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CONTENTS.

Page EASTERN BROOK TROUT — Frontispiece Charles Bradford Hudson

IN MEMORIAM 2

HISTORY OF THE INTRODUCTION OF FOOD AND GAME FISHES

INTO THE WATERS OF CALIFORNIA W. H. Shehley 3

THE FISH DISTRIBUTION OF 1916 G. H. Lambson 13

SCIENTIFIC NATURE STUDY IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Georgia V. Miller 14

EDITORIALS 19

HATCHERY NOTES 29

COMMERCIAL FISHERY NOTES 34

CONSERVATION IN OTHER STATES 37

LIFE HISTORY NOTES 38

UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE COOPERATION 39

BOY SCOUT COOPERATION 40

REPORTS 43

Fishery Products, April to June, 1916 43

Fishery Products, June to September, 1916 45

Violations of Fish and Game Laws 47

Seizures 47

Financial report 48

27333

IN MEMORIAM.

Alonzo F. Lea, a deputy of the Fish and Game Commission for many years, died in Santa Rosa on October 26, 1916. A week previous he fell from a step- ladder while repairing an awning at his home in Cloverdale and fractured his skull. At the time it was realized that he was dangerously hurt and as soon as possible he was taken to the hospital at Santa Rosa, where the best of medi- cal skill was available. During the few days that he lingered, he never fully regained consciousness, and died without recognizing those closest to him.

Lea's work for game conservation began during the nineties. In the early days he was detailed to various parts of the state, but his best work was accomplished in Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties. His familiarity with the roads and trails, his fearlessness, his extensive acquaintance in ail parts of these counties made him a particularly valuable man. The fact that the counties in which he worked are well supplied with game today is largely due to his conscientious work.

He was buried at Kelseyville, Lake County. Notwithstanding the compara- tive inaccessibility of this town, hundreds of friends came from distant places and many of the public officials of Lake County were present at the funeral. He was borne to his last earthly resting place by associates in the employ of the Fish and Game Commission.

It is difficult to express in words the sentirrient that fills us at the burial of a loved and respected friend. The tribute paid him at the grave by his former chief, Charles A. Vogelsang, was fitting and most appropriate. It was as follows:

"We, his former associates and comrades, have come here today to pay our last tribute of respect and affection for one who was our friend, a true soldier in the ranks. His work was characterized by courage, loyalty and integrity. He rendered a great service to the nation and the state. In the performance of his difficult duty he made no enemies, only new friends.

"Of him it can be truly said, 'his life was gentle and the elements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world, he was a man.'" —J. S, H.

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California Fish and Game

" CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE THROUGH EDUCATION "

Volume 3 SAN FRANCISCO, JANUARY 20, 1917 Number 1

HISTORY OF THE INTRODUCTION OF FOOD AND GAME FISHES INTO THE WATERS OF CALIFORNIA.*

By W. H. Sheblet, in charge Fish Culture, California Fish and Game Commission.

The California Fish Commission during the first decade of its existence introduced into the waters of this state a number of varieties of food and game fishes and the attending results are regarded as being among the greatest achievements in fish-culture and acclimatization. The only work of the kind that will bear favorable comparison is the introduction of food and game fishes into New Zealand. The success of the work was due largely to the untiring efforts of Dr. Livingston Stone, a fish-culturist of that day, in the employ of the New York Fish Commission; and to the study and the practical work of Mr. J. G. "Woodbury, who later became Superintendent of Hatcheries for the California Fish Commission.

The most important work in the introduction of new fishes into the state was accomplished during the period from 1870 to 1883 ; following this came the preservation of the fishes, and the artificial propagation of the native species on a large scale, to multiply their numbers to meet the demands of commerce and of an increasing population.

Since its initial organization in 1870, the Fish and Game Commission has introduced into the waters of California about thirty new varieties of fish, with varying degrees of success. Following is an account of the species introduced, the dates of introduction, and the results obtained :

1. In 1871, the State Fish Commission secured the services of Mr. Seth Green, the noted fish-culturist, to superintend the transportation of a consignment of shad fry across the continent from New York to California. Mr. Green and an assistant left Albany, New York, on June 19, 1871, with 12,000 young shad fry (Clupea sapidissima) and arrived at Sacramento on June 26th. The same day the fish were planted in the Sacramento River, at Tehama. About 10,000 of the fry were in good condition at the time the plant was made. Early in June, 1873, a second shipment of shad was made by Dr. Livingston Stone. The trip across the continent was a joint affair planned by the

[*No state in the Union has been more successful than California in establishing new food and game fishes, but there are comparatively few of our citizens who Icnow the names or the history of the many introductions. It is fortunate that sufficient records have been kept to make possible this outline of the different attempts to intro- duce desirable species. The present article is an extract from one which appeared in the "California Blue Book" for 1911, pages 513-527. Although some of the scientific names used are obsolete, yet the name used at the time of introduction has been retained without change. — Editor.]

4 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

federal and the California commissions, and for the first time a car was used especially equipped for the work of transportiDs: the fish. This aquarium car was the property of the United States Fish Commission; it was fitted with tanks for sea and fresh water, ice chests, apparatus for aerating the water, supplies for the attendants, sleeping accommo- dations, etc. The car carried nearly 300,000 valuable food and game fishes, consisting of ten species. Unfortunately, owing to the collapse of a railroad bridge over the Elkhorn River, in Nebraska, the car was destroyed and the whole consignment was lost. However, this accident did not deter the California Commission from carrying out its purpose of getting a second lot of shad into California. Dr. Stone was instructed to return East and secure another shipment. Accordingly, on the 25th of June, he left Castleton hatchery, in New York, with a third shipment of shad fry and July 2, 1873, 35,000 were planted in the Sacramento River, near Tehama. The expense of this shipment was paid by the United States Commission. Several other shipments were made by the United States Commission between 1876 and 1880. All the shad fry, totaling 619,000, were planted in the Sacramento River, near Tehama. In 1873, two years after the first shad were deposited in the Sacramento River, several mature specimens were taken in San Francisco Bay. The species has continued to increase until it is now one of the most common fish in our waters.

2. The German carp {Cyprinus carpio) was first imported into California in 1872, by Mr. J. A. Poppe of Sonoma County. He brought five fish from Holstein, Germany, and put them into his private ponds, where he held them and did a thriving business for a number of years, selling their progeny for purposes of propagation. In 1877, the Cali- fornia Commission exchanged trout eggs with the Japanese Govern- ment for 88 young carp, and in 1879, the Federal Commission shipped 298 carp to California ; 60 of these were planted in Sutterville Lake, near Sacramento, the remainder in a private pond in Alameda County, where they were at the disposal of the State Commission. During the same year, J. V. Shebley, a fish-culturist and private pond owner in Nevada County, began the propagation of carp ; and in 1883, he sold to the California Commission 600 German carp, which were deposited in the Sacramento River, near the city of Sacramento. In 1882, the United States Commission began to deliver carp to private applicants; and in a short time carp were to be found in nearly all public and private waters of the state, in which they would thrive. At the time these plants were made the carp was one of the most popular of fishes; they were recommended as being valuable food fish that would thrive in all of the warmer lakes, ponds, and streams of California. Much has been said for and a great deal more against the introduction of carp into California; but while they probably have been the principal cause of destruction of the California perch, by eating the eg2s and diggine up the nests, at the same time they furnish the chief food of the black and the striped bass, two varieties of fish whose value more than offsets the damage done by the carp. In time, as other species become more scarce, the carp will probably become one of the state's most valuable food fishes, as it already is in older states and countries.

3. The eastern brook or speckled trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) was first introduced into California in 1872. The state purchased 6.000

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 5

fish and distributed them equally in the North Fork of the American River, the headwaters of Alameda Creek, and in the San Andreas Reservoir, near San Francisco. The first shipment of eggs (60,000) that produced results was purchased by the California Commission in New Hampshire, in 1875, and hatched at Berkeley. The fry from this lot were distributed principally in lakes and streams in Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, Yolo, Alameda, and Santa Clara counties, and in Prosser Creek, Nevada County, and the North Fork of the American River, in Placer County. In 1877, 1878, and 1879, eggs were obtained from New Hampshire and Wisconsin, and the resulting fry w^ere dis- tributed over a large area of the state's waters, the North Fork of the American River and the Truckee River receiving the largest plants. The fish planted in the coast streams did not reproduce, but those planted in Siskiyou, Placer, and Nevada counties, and in the high Sierra lakes and streams multiplied remarkably well. In 1890, the work of propagating the eastern brook trout was taken up in earnest and each year the Commission distributes thousands of these trout in nearly every county having suitable waters; they are now one of our most sought after fish.

4. Between 1872 and 1883 the national commission furnished the state commission with six consignments of whitefish (Goregonus clupei- formis), aggregating nearly 1,500,000 eggs. The eggs were hatched at Berkeley, at San Leandro, and in a temporary structure erected on Clear Lake, in Lake County, and the fr.y were distributed in some of the larger lakes and streams of the state that seemed best adapted to the habits of the fish; but they did not thrive. The western or Rocky Mountain whitefish (Coregonus williamsoni) found in the Tahoe basin has been often mistaken for the imported species.

5. In 1874, at the request of the California Commission, a second attempt was successfully carried out to bring the common eel {Auguilla chrisypa) to California, the first attempt having ended with the disaster to the aquarium car. Of the original shipment, consisting of several thousand small individuals, the loss in transit of the fresh water eel taken from the Hudson River, New York, was almost complete; but twelve survived, and these were placed in a slough of the Sacramento River, near Sacramento ; but the salt water eels from New York Harbor stood the journey better, and about 1,500 were deposited in San Fran- cisco Bay, near Oakland. In 1879, Dr. Stone brought out a second shipment of about 500 small eels ; these were planted in the Sacramento River. In 1882, Mr. J. G. Woodbury of the California commission transported ten adult eels from the Shrewsbury River, New Jersey, and deposited them in Suisun Bay. There have been no apparent results from any of these plants.

6. The American or eastern lobster {Homarus americanus) was first introduced into California waters in 1874, a consignment made the previous year having been lost when the aquarium car was destroyed. Under the auspices of the California commission, Dr. Stone started with 150 full-grown, egg-bearing females from Massachusetts Bay; but four of them reached the coast alive, and these were planted in San Francisco Bay, near Oakland. Subsequently four other small shipments were made, the last in 1888. Plants were made in San Francisco Bay, off Bonito lighthouse, off Point Lobos, to the south of

6 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Carmel Bay, and in IMonterey Bay; but although several of those planted in ]\Ionterey Bay have been taken by fishermen, no resulting increase in numbers has attended any of the plants made. Thus far the reason for the failure of the lobster to mviltiply in these waters is not definitely known, as the physical and biological character of the waters of the Pacific Ocean is apparently suitable for its acclimatization.

7. In 187-4, several species of catfish were introduced — the common bullhead or horned pout (Ameiurus nehulosufi) , the channel or spotted cat {Ictahirus punctatus), the white or Schuylkill eat (A^neiurus catus), and one or more species from the ^lississippi Valley. On June 12th, fifty-four large Schuylkill catfish from the Raritan River, New Jersey, and the Mississippi catfish, were planted in the San Joaquin River, near Stockton ; while seventy bullheads from Lake Champlain, Vermont, were deposited in ponds or sloughs near Sacra- mento. The Schuylkill cat of the Sacramento River increased very rapidly and soon was as commonly seen in the markets as our native fish.

8. An attempt was made to acclimatize the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in 1874, when 305 of the 450 fish brought by Dr. Stone from the Penobscot River, ]Maine, were planted in the Sacramento River, near Redding. No results were obtained from this plant, as the number of fish planted was not great enough to determine whether they would or would not become acclimated to the waters of the Sacramento. The United States Commission hatched out 200,000 eggs at Fort Gaston, California, in 1890, and in May, 1891, 194,000 fish were liber- ated in Trinity River ; but no run was established.

9. The black basses, both species {Micropterus salmoides) the large- mouth and (Micropterus dolomieu) the small mouth, have been intro- duced into California, and have thrived remarkably well. The first shipment, brought out by Dr. Stone in 1874, consisted of seventy-five full-grown spawning bass from Lake Champlain, Vermont, and twenty- four small fish from Saint Joseph River, Michigan, both shipments being of the small-mouth variety; the former were planted in Napa Creek, the latter (twelve survivors), in Alameda Creek. A second shipment of twenty-two mature fish was brought out by Dr. Stone in 1879, and planted in Crystal Springs Reservoir, in San Mateo County, where they increased rapidly ; hundreds of the progeny were consigned to various waters in the state. The United States Commission, in 1891, deposited nearly 2,000 yearling large-mouth bass in Lake Cuya- maca, in San Diego County, and 620 in the Feather River, near Gridley. In June, 1895, at the request of the California Fish Commission, the United States Commission delivered 2,500 large-mouth bass fry to the agents of the state commission. These fry were placed in the ponds at the Sisson hatchery, where they thrived, and whence the species was distributed throughout the state, wherever suitable waters were to be found. In the same month, fifty fish were put in each of the fol- lowing California waters : Buena Vista Lake, near Bakersfield ; reservoir near San Diego ; and Elsinore Lake, near Elsinore. Agents of the Fish Commission distribute a large number of bass each season from the overflowed districts, where they are seined and deposited in public waters. Both species of the bass are highly esteemed as food and game fishes, and are a great acquisition to the fish life of California.

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10. A shipment of eighteen full-grown wall-eyed or glass-eyed pike, or pike perch (Stizostcdion vitreum) was brought to California in 1874 from the Missisquoi River, Vermont, and sixteen were planted in the Sacramento River, near Sacramento City; but they did not multiply.

11. The tautog {Tautoga onitis) was first brought to California by Dr. Livingston Stone in 1874, and a second lot in 1897. Both shipments were deposited in San Francisco Bay; but they consisted of only a few hundred fish each and no results were obtained.

12. Four full-g^o^^^l rock bass {Amhloplites rupestris) of the six obtained from the Missisquoi River, Vermont, were brought to Cali- fornia by Dr. Livingston Stone, in 1874, and deposited in Napa Creek, a tributary of San Pablo Bay, on June 12th. No known results have attended the planting of this fish.

13. In 1877, the California commission exchanged salmon and trout eggs with the Hawaiian Government for a shipment of 100 fish, known as the awa {Chanos cyprinella) ; they were planted in a small stream at B^-idgeport, in Solano County. There is no record of any of this species having survived.

14. The eggs of the landlocked salmon (Salmo solar sehago) were first brought to California in 1878. Between that date and 1895 at least five shipments were received from the federal commission, totaling about 135,000 eggs. These were hatched at the San Leandro and the Shebley hatcheries, and the fry distributed in the cold lakes of the high Sierras, and in the lakes and streams of the Truckee Basin. A few fish have been taken that had reached maturity, but the species has not increased in numbers. The fish have been held in the hatchery ponds at Sisson for a time and have thrived, but no particular effort has been made to propagate them. A shipment of the eggs was hatched at Sisson hatchery and another lot at Bear Valley hatchery, in the early nineties.

15. One of the most important and successful importations of fish into California waters was made when the striped bass (Roccus lineatus) was introduced in 1879. The introduction of this valuable food fish was first suggested by S. R. Throckmorton, president of the California Fish Commission, in a letter to Professor Spencer F. Baird, then United States Commissioner of Fisheries. As a result of this suggestion. Dr. Livingston Stone was instructed to transport a shipment of striped bass to California. Accordingly, he collected from the Navesink River, in New Jersey, 132 fish, ranging from one and one-half to five inches in length, and thirty medium-sized fish. Twenty-five of these died en route, but the remainder, about 135, were deposited in the Straits of Carquinez, at Martinez. Individuals from the first lot were caught in the lower waters of the bay within a year from the time that they were planted, and a number were caught occasionally for several years after- ward; but the commission decided to have a second shipment made from the East, as it was not certain that the fish were increasing. Accordingly, in June, 1882, Mr. J. G. Woodbury was sent East by the California Fish Commission to procure another shipment. He collected 450 fish five to nine inches long from the Shrewsbury River, New Jersey, and in the latter part of July arrived Avith a little over 300 of the fish in good condition; they were planted in Suisun Bay, at Army Point,

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. 9

near Suisiin. Considering the small number of fisli introduced and their remarkable increase in a few years, the result obtained from the introduction of the striped bass into California is one of the greatest feats of acclimatization of new species of fish in the history of fish- culture. In 1889, hundreds of them, weighing from one-half to a pound each, were being caught and sold in the San Francisco markets. From 1889 to 1892, the number caught had increased 250 per cent; such quantities were being taken in 1889, it Avas feared the fish would be exterminated before they had come to maturity and had a chance to reproduce; so the Supervisors of San Francisco County, at the request of the Board of Fish Commissioners, passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale of striped bass under eight pounds in w^eight. A state law was afterward passed making it unlawful to take bass under one pound ; and later this was changed to the present limit of three pounds. It is now also unlawful to ship striped bass from the state. The striped bass is one of the finest food and game fishes in the United States ; and if the California Fish Commission had not succeeded in acclimatizing any other variety of fish, the value of the striped bass alone would more than repay the people for all the money expended in introducing other species. Over two million pounds of striped bass have been marketed in one season in San Francisco. This does not include the amounts sold in other places.

16. In 1891, 3,000 yearling yellow or ringed perch. (Perca flavescens) 1 1 were deposited by the United States Commission in the Feather River,

and 3,980 in Lake Cuyamaca, in San Diego County, where they increased rapidly. A few were taken to Sisson hatchery and placed in the rearing ponds, in 1895. They remained healthy and made a good 'A growth, but owing to lack of pond room no efforts were made to propa- • ' gate them to any extent. Occasionally a few have been taken from the Feather River and from some of the sloughs in that region, but as the species has not been generally distributed, the results of the planting have not been fully determined.

17. Four hundred yearling warmouth bass (Clmnohryttits gulosus) from Quincy, Illinois, were planted by the United States Commission in Lake Cuyamaca, near San Diego, in 1891. In the same year, 100 yearlings were deposited in Feather River, near Gridley, Butte County ; and in 1895, twelve fish were delivered at Sisson hatchery, but they were not in good condition. Six of them died shortly after they were placed in the ponds; the remaining six survived until the following spring, but food conditions not being suitable, they did not thrive and died before spawning.

18. The crappie {Fomoxis annularis) and the strawberry or calico bass {Pomoxis sparoides) were introduced in the early nineties, but were not widely distributed. In 1891, 285 yearlings were deposited in Lake Cuyamaca, near San Diego, and in 1895, 50,000 fry were sent to the Sisson hatchery ; but none of them lived.

19. In 1891, a shipment of 400 yearling pike (Lucius lucius) was made to Lake Cuyamaca, near San Diego, and another 100 were placed in the Feather River, in Butte County. The fish planted in Lake Cuya- maca increased for a time, but those in the Feather River have not multiplied. In 1895, six pike were delivered at Sisson hatchery; they thrived in the ponds for a year, when they were placed in an aquarium

2—27333

10 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

at the ]\reL'haiiies Fair, in San Francisco, and died before the fair was over. It is well that they died and that those planted in the Feather River did not survive; for the species is too predatory to plant among our valuable fishes.

20. In iMay, 1893, the New York commission gave 100,000 muskel- lunge fry {Lucius masquinongy) from Chautauqua Lake to the Cali- fornia Fish Commission. The United States Bureau of Fisheries trans- ported the fish free of charge as far as Ogden, from which place the consignment was under the auspices of the California commission, the Spring Valley Water Company paying half the cost of transportation from Ogden to San Francisco. The fish were received in good condition, and 93,000 were placed in Lake Merced, near San Francisco, to destroy the carp in the lake, as they were keeping it roily and made the water almost unfit for use, but they did not survive; and as in the case of the pike, it is probably as well that they did not, for while they are a game fish, they are too predaceous to place among our more valuable fishes. These fish were put in private waters with the understanding that the commission might take such fish for distribution or breeding purposes as might be desirable.

21. The lake trout {SalveUnus namaycusli), known also as the salmon or Mackinaw trout, was first brought to California in 1894. The shipment of 100,000 eggs was hatched at the Sisson hatchery, with a loss of only 7 per cent. Sixty-five thousand of the fry were planted in Lake Talioe in May, 1865, the remainder being held in the ponds at the Sisson station and shipped the following season. Several other lots were hatched at Sisson, and the fry deposited in the lakes of the Truckee Basin. A number of these fish are taken each season from the waters that have been stocked, where they have thrived to a considerable extent, but not as well as was expected. This trout is abundant in the waters of lakes Superior, Huron, and Michigan, and should attain a large size in Lake Tahoe, as the species is adapted to cold, clear, deep lakes.

22. In February, 1894, 20,000 eggs of the Loch Leven or Scotch lake trout {Salmo trutta levenensis) were sent to the California commission from the stock ponds of the United States Government at Northville, Michigan. They were hatched at Sisson hatchery, and the fry deposited in the hatchery ponds, where they thrived. The stock has been retained in the Sisson hatchery ponds ever since, where they have been propa- gated successfully, and thousands of the fry are shipped each year for distribution in the public waters of the state.

Fig. 2. Loch Leven trout. The original stock of Loch Leven trout was received in 1894, when 20,000 eggs were received from the United States Fish Commission Hatchery at North- ville, Michigan. Thousands of Loch Leven trout fry are now shipped out from the Sisson Hatchery each year.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 11

The Loch Leven and the German brown trout are closely allied and appear to be but different varieties of the same species. They are some- what different in their habits, but do equally well in the clear, cold lakes and streams of the Sierras, as well as in the region around Mount Shasta. The two varieties have been crossed at the Sisson hatchery, and have produced a strong, gamy fish.

23. In 1895, 135,000 Von Behr or German brown trout eggs {Salmo fario) were hatched at the Sisson hatchery. Several thousand fry were placed in the ponds to be raised for breeders, and the remainder were distributed in a number of the lakes and streams of the high Sierras. Previous to this the federal government had made several plants in the state.

24. Twelve yearling white bass {Boccus chrysops) were received at Sisson hatchery from Quincy, Illinois, in June, 1895. They were not in good condition and seven of them died shortly after their arrival; the others died the following fall. This introductory shipment of white bass is the only one of which there is any record.

25. Small plants of the green sunfish {Lepomis cyanellus) and the bluegill or blue bream have been made in California. In 1895, twelve yearlings were delivered to the Sisson hatchery; eighteen were put in Elsinore Lake, and eighteen in the Bolsa Chico River. A few were accidentally introduced with other fish into Lake Cuyamaca, near San Diego, in 1891. Wherever conditions are favorable, these fish have thrived.

26. The California Fish Commission has endeavored to introduce the Montana grayling {Thymallus montanus) into the waters of California, but so far without any known results. The eggs are very delicate and the fry hard to raise. In 1901, 100,000 eggs, from Bozeman, Montana, were received at the Sisson hatchery in good condition. Seven thousand of the fry were placed in a pond that was thought suitable for them; they thrived for eighteen months, then became diseased and died off, until only 600 were left; these were placed in a pond where they were in an entirely wild state and could subsist on natural food. These fish and a few that were saved from a lot received the following year grew up together and promised to furnish some eggs for propagation, but owing to the accidental bursting of the pond wall, the fish escaped into one of the tributaries of the Sacramento River, just as they were reaching maturity. Several thousand of the fry were distributed from the second lot of eggs that were received, into waters that, from descrip- tions given of the fishes' habits, appeared to be ideal, but no results have been noted thus far. The grayling is considered by some anglers to be the most beautiful and graceful of American fresh-water fishes. They rise to the artificial fly more quietly than do the trout, but make a good fight and are an excellent table fish.

The last lot of fresh-water fishes received in California from the United States Bureau of Fisheries was in November, 1908. The fish were shipped from Meredosia, Illinois, and consisted of crappie [Pomoxis annularis), blue-gilled sunfish or bream (Lepomis pallidiis), and yellow perch {Perca flavescens). They w^ere distributed as follows:

Four cans of crappie and sunfish in Honey Lake, Lassen County; a number of yellow perch and crappies in Vera Lake, Nevada County;

12 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

sunfisli aud yellow perch in lakes in Placer County, and in sloughs of the Feather and Sacramento rivers ; some of all three varieties near Stockton, and in Clear Lake, Lake County; perch and sunfish in Kings River and San Joaquin Eivcr, and sunfish and yellow perch in Kern River and Buena Vista Lake. Some of the tish were planted in Russell 's Lake, Ventura County, and in suitable waters in Los Angeles, Riverside, and Orange counties. Reports from several of these places have been received and indicate that the fish are thriving and increasing.

No effort has ever been made by the commission to introduce eastern oysters, but it is stated that they were first brought into California in or about 1870, bj' Mr. A. Booth of Chicago, and it is recorded that the first shipment, consisting of three carloads of large oysters, so overstocked the market that in order to avoid loss the consignee had to plant in San Francisco Ba}' all the stock not promptly disposed of. The enforced planting resulted favorably, and it became the custom to annually ship one-year and two-year seeds to be planted on the grounds in the southern part of San Francisco Bay, where they remained for two and three years, or until they attained a suitable size for marketing. There have been various reports of wild eastern oysters taken at different points in the bay, and Mr. Chas. H. To^Misend, in the Report of the United States Fish Commission for 1889-91, says: "It is possible that during the long time eastern oysters have been kept in the bay they have become in a measure acclimated, and that there is a constantly increasing tendency to propagate — that is, the progeny of oysters grown here become hardier with each generation and better adapted to the colder but more equable waters." Full accounts of the early eastern oyster industry in San Francisco Bay are given in Mr. Townsend's article and in an article by Captain J. W. Collins, in the Report of the United States Fish Commission for 1888.

From 1899 to 1908 the oyster industry decreased gradually, all of the oysters taken in the latter year being taken from private beds, and used for market purposes only. All seed oysters planted that year were shipped from eastern beds.

The appearance of the soft-shell clam in San Francisco Bay was first noted in 1874. The spawn is supposed to have been accidentally introduced with the carloads of eastern oysters planted in the vicinity of San Francisco. They soon covered the mud flats surrounding San Francisco Bay, and were taken in great numbers.

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. 13

THE FISH DISTRIBUTION OF 1916.

By G. H. Lambson, Superintendent Sisson Hatchery.

When the last carload of trout left the hatchery we gave a sigh of relief to think that the arduous work of the past four months had been brought to a successful conclusion, and that so many fine trout had been planted in the public waters of the state, where all could enjoy the pleasure and profit of catching them. There were the gamy steel- head, the beautiful eastern brook trout, the black-spotted trout from the cold waters of Tahoe, the Loch Leven trout whose ancestors came from Scotland, and last but best our own native favorite — the rainbow. They were fine, lusty fellows, and all were sent forth to the waters best suited to each kind, to add to the health and pleasure of our people.

Our thoughts turned to the many anglers who, by purchasing licenses, supported the hatcheries and made the great work possible. But they have their reward, for any one who catches but two pounds of trout during the season is repaid in a medium as valuable as gold, while he who catches as much as twenty pounds receives a thousand- fold return. But there is a greater value, more subtile, but none the less real, that of the health and pleasure of the people. On any summer night along a hundred streams and lakes may be seen gleaming the campfires of the happy anglers, camping out and breathing the health- laden air of wood and stream. The worried business man, the weary laborer, the professional man, all are there, often, with their entire families, and all reaping a greater profit than could be had from any other investment, for health and pleasure are the dividends.

Our state is famous for its beautiful women and keen, alert men of business, and if the cause could be sifted into its component parts I wonder how much would be found to be due to our well-stocked streams ? Surely it would be very large.

The favorite prescription of the physician is to "take a rest, go out into the coimtry and live next to nature," and, I would add, come back with renewed vigor for the strenuous life of today. But the physician's advice is disregarded unless there is some incentive to urge them on, and this is supplied by the fine fishing in our streams and lakes which are stocked annually from the hatcheries.

The commercial side has also received close attention and millions of salmon have been planted in the Sacramento and Klamath rivers. They were not the small fish of the earlier season, but fine, big, well-fed yearlings from three to six inches long, fish that are fully able to cope with the dangers that beset them on their journey to the sea, and which will return in from three to six years as mature salmon and add to the wealth of the state, to the delight of the angler, and to furnish a delicious food to those who must, perforce, procure their fish from the market. In our twenty years' experience in salmon work we have never seen planted such large and healthy fish as those distributed this season.

In the distribution from the Sisson hatchery there were forty-three carloads of the various kinds of trout, each averaging 100 cans, and

14 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

many thousands were sent out by messengers. There were fifteen car- loads of salmon planted in the Klamath River, while the Sacramento was stocked direct from the hatchery by wagon. "\Ve can not conceive of a better investment, or one that benefits a greater number of people than the hatcheries. Every class and family, the angler, the com- mercial fisherman, the dealer or packer, all share in the di\ddends which are declared dailv. Trulv our state is a favored one.

SCIENTIFIC NATURE STUDY IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

By Georgie V. Miller.

We are apt to think of the law of supply and demand as an important and everlasting plan which no amount of neglect will spoil. It is not usually until the loss caused by waste or mismanagement directly affects us that we begin to consider a way to prevent a crisis.

Forests, for example, a few years ago were found to be deteriorating so fast that the government and different states took up the matter of their conservation with added seriousness of purpose. Courses of forestn^ were established in the various colleges, and conditions partook of a new aspect.

That was the medieval step in forest conservation through education. The modernist perceives cooperation through enlightenment of the people at large — not of the few whom the university courses directly reach. "Teach the children of the public schools the common names and uses of the trees." said Professor Tower of the Department of Forestry, University of ]\Iaine. "This will create in them a desire for further knowledge of the subject, and give them, not too late, a reason for the folly of waste."

Don Carlos Ellis, in charge of educational work for the United States Forest Service, made an everlasting impression upon the school children of San Francisco who were so fortunate as to hear his lectures and see their accompanying motion pictures, during the recent exposi- tion. The United States Forest Service is placing emphasis on the educational method of forest conservation.

A campaign is on for the conservation of wild life through education. The courses are so well conducted and attended, and the names of those in charge so familiar, that I need not dwell upon this phase of the work. Be it sufficient to say, however, of wild life as a study, that its really systematic introduction occurs, generally speaking, in the university. Nearly all the work in the grades is merely incidental. A hint to us that the children will be sought in case of a doubtful situation, is the recent urgent appeal to them to save all newspapers against a possible paper famine. Then give the children something substantial in nature studv. Beside its scientific and economic lessons

I

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. 15

the work has its moral and artistic values, the habit of killing being reduced to a minimum when students have learned to thoroughly enjoy animals and birds alive through knowing them. The study will prove pleasurable to them and profitable to everyone.

A country or suburban teacher has not far to look for available material. I found the boys knew the local birds, and were desirous of studying their habits more closely. Next came birds of exceptional interest from other regions, for nature study should no more be con- fined to one small corner of the world than is geography.

It was not until last year that I ventured to introduce bird study in a city school. Leo Wiley, collector of specimens, had sent me a number of bird skins as an aid. Several lessons had been given after my usual method of procedure, when I promised to show the class on the following day the skin of a California roadrunner.

Unusual excitement followed this announcement. The majority of the boys thought it a new kind of automobile. How could I show the skin of a machine ? But the girls were sure it was a snake, and shivered becomingly. Not one had ever seen a roadrunner. They examined the stiff eyelashes, speculated upon what the bird must eat, marveled at the length of his legs, now fully understanding why the Spanish called him "correo del camino," which our Anglo-Saxon pioneers later translated to roadrunner.

Each of the specimens was sho^^•n many times, not only to the mem- bers of my own class, but to others. The boys had spread the news, and so extravagantly that many believed my supply equal to a museum 's. I was gratified, even though enthusiasm had got the better of veracity in several instances. I felt like the Pied Piper, only that in our case a way to new observations had been opened to the children without the closing of a mountain, behind which lay the joys of childhood.

That those boys will look and listen when afforded an opportunity I have no doubt. During vacation a newsboy whose name was unknown to me, tucked a copy of the ''Bulletin" under my arm. lie smiled sweetly, and I was about to pay him when he shook his head and rushed after a prospective customer. On his way I heard him reply to a companion, "No, not mine — the big guys' teacher; the one that knows everj^thing about birds."

So many teachers have expressed the desire for something definite as an aid to the introduction and presentation of the subject of birds, that I submit the following outline. This I have used successfully, in more or less the same form, a number of years. There are innumerable

16

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

reference books, among them j\[rs. Bailey's "Handbook of Birds of the Western United States," than wliiili none is more complete at the present time.

DETAILED OUTLINE FOR THE STUDY OF ANY BIRD.

I. Location.

1. State or portion of state.

2. "Woods or open.

3. Swampy or dry section. II. Description.

1. Size.

(1) Compared with robin.

(2) Compared with English spar-

row.

2. Shape.

(1) Body.

a. Long and slender.

b. Short and stocky.

(2) Head.

a. High or crested.

b. Small and nearly horizon-

tal witli body.

(3) Bill.

a. Large and strong.

b. Short and stocky.

(4) Tail

a. Long.

b. Short.

c. Notched.

d. Forked.

e. Rounded.

( 5 ) Wings.

a. Long.

b. Short.

(6) Feet.

a. Large and strong.

b. Small and weak.

3. Color.

(1) Upper parts.

(2) Lower parts.

(3) Special markings.

a. Chin.

b. Eye.

c. Rump.

d. Tip of tail.

e. Under tall parts.

f. Outer tail feathers.

g. "Wings or wing bars. h. Belly.

i. Breast.

4. Movements.

(1) On the ground.

(2) In flight.

(3) On perch.

III. P^amily.

1. Sparrow-finch.

2. Swallow.

3. Flycatcher.

4. Goatsucker, swift, hummingbird.

5. Lark.

6. "Warbler.

7. Thrush.

8. "S\"axwing.

9. Tanager.

10. "U'ren. thrasher.

11. "V^ireo.

12. Kinglet.

13. Oriole, blackbird.

14. Crow, jay, magpie.

15. Kingfisher.

16. Nuthatch.

17. Woodpecker.

18. Shrike.

19. Owl.

20. Hawk, eagle.

21. Vulture.

22. Grouse, partridge, quail.

23. Snipe.

24. Plover.

25. Roadrunner.

IV. Food.

1. Vegetable.

2. Animal.

3. Manner of obtaining —

(1) While in flight.

(2) Flying from perch.

(3) From trees or insects in trees.

(4) From the ground. V. Song or call.

VI. Residence.

1. Summer.

2. Winter.

3. Permanent.

4. Transient. VII. Migration.

1. Time.

2. Place. VIII. Nesting.

1. Time.

2. Place.

3. Kind of nest.

4. Eggs.

( 1 ) Number.

(2) Color.

(3) Size.

5. Young birds.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

17

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME

A publication devoted to the conserva- tion of wild life and published quarterly by the California State Fish and Game Commission.

Sent free to citizens of the State of Cali- fornia. Offered in exchange for ornitho- logical, mamnialogical and similar period- icals.

The articles published in California Fish AND Game are not copyrighted and may be reproduced in other periodicals, provided due credit is given the California Fish and Game Commission. Editors of newspapers and periodicals are invited to make use of pertinent material.

All material for publication should be sent to H. C. Bryant, Museum of Verte- brate Zoology, Berkeley, Cal.

January 20, 1917.

Game Commission should be made a clearing house for information on fish and game. Are you not anxious to know the truth regarding the life and habits of some game species? The number of false stories which are current is appalling. Settle your disputes by writing the bu- reau. If we are unable to answer your question we will refer it to someone who can answer it. The reply will be sent you by mail or will appear in the columns of Califoknia Fish and Game, at your pleasure.

"The United States is not yet ours in the proudest sense, and can not be until we are doing all that can be done to give to all its people and to the world the full expression of its high- est intelligence applied alike to its re- sources and to the life of the people." — Franklin K. Lane.

WILL YOU DO YOUR SHARE?

riease read again the above quotation by Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, and emphasize the words "full expression" and "resources." What is California's "full expression of its highest intelligence applied to its fish and game resources?" Is it the still noticeable dis- regard for protective laws? The notice- able waste of a valuable food supply? The neglect of valuable species reduced to the danger point? The tolerance of the game hog? No! The full expression of California's highest intelligence is more than this. With the convening of the legislature this month there is opened an- other chance to better game conditions and conserve for the future the wild life resources of the state. The goal sug- gested above can only be reached when all the people of the state take an interest in fish and game and do their share toward its realization. See that your representatives believe in "conservation" and back up their belief with action. Do your share !

WHAT DO YOU WISH TO KNOW ABOUT FISH AND GAME?

The Bureau of Education, Publicity and Research of the California Fish and

CARL WESTFUFELD.

NEW EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

At a called meeting of the State Fish and Game Commission, held at Sacra- mento on December 8, 1916, Carl Wester- feld, fish and game commissioner since November, 1911, resigned as commis- sioner and Mr. Edward L. Bosqui of San Francisco was appointed by Governor Johnson to fill the vacancy. The com- mission then appointed Mr. Westerfeld as executive officer to succeed Ernest Schaeffle, who resigned in September, 191G. All who know Mr. Westerfeld are congratulating the commission on its choice and the whole state on its good fortune in obtaining the services of so capable a man.

Carl Westerfeld was born in San Fran- cisco and has lived in that city all of his life, with the exception of the few years spent at college. He took his A.B. at Yale University in 1893, and in 1896

3 — 27333

18

CALIPORNIA FISH AND GAME.

graduated from Hastings College of Law. He was admitted to the bar and has since made a name for himself in his profes- sion. His interest in fish and game led to his appointment as commissioner, and to his election as president of the Pacific Fisheries Society in 1914. For the past five years Mr. Westerfeld, although hav- ing many personal interests, has given a great dtnil of time and attention to the work of the Fish and Game Commission, and consequently is in close touch with its activities and plans.

THE BIENNIAL REPORT.

Clothed in an attractive colored cover showing a mountain lion in wait for deer, the Twenty-fourth Biennial Report of the Fish and Game Commission is off the press and ready for distribution. The report covers the period from July 1, 1914, to June 30, 191G, and gives in de- tail the work accomplished by the com- mission.

The main body of the report, which is a summary of the activities and accom- plishments of the commission, is followed by departmental and district reports and by an appendix giving a roster of em- ployees, an inventory of state property, the distribution of fish by counties, the distribution of game birds, and full sta- tistics on lion bounties paid, seizures of fish and game and illegally-used fishing apparatus, violations of fish and game laws, hunters and anglers license sales, and receipts and disbursements. Nearly one hundred halftones illustrate the re- port. Conspicuous among these illustra- tions are pictures showing the work of the deputy, a series showing how fish are transported from the hatchery to the stream, seining fish from overflowed dis- tricts in the San Joaquin Valley, feeding quail during severe winter weather and various fishways, screens and hatchery buildings.

The report clearly shows that the past biennial period has been one of marked advance in the protection and preserva- tion of wild life, the propagation of fish, the stocking of streams, the construction of fish ladders and screens, and above all, in the accumulation of data on fish and game and the development of a public sentiment favoring wild life conservation. All of the duties of the commission, as above outlined, have been performed as

fully and faithfully as the financial and other resources have allowed.

More arrests have been made and more convictions obtained in this than in any previous biennial period.

Educational and publicity work has been largely augmented and one depart- ment gives almost its entire time to work of this kind.

The game refuges of the state have been enlarged by the addition of 782,998 acres of national forest lauds, which were set aside by the last legislature.

The new and amended fish and game laws of the 1915 legislature have proved to be important conservation measures. Noteworthy in this legislation was the elimination of "bull hunting." the chang- ing of the laws to accord with the Federal Migratory Bird Law and the shortening of seasons and lowering of bag limits.

Large numbers of deer and quail were saved from starvation during the severe winter weather of 191G.

Through the payment of 162 lion boun- ties in 1915 and of 111 during the first six months of 191G, thousands of deer have been saved from death at the hands j of these predators.

Sixty-eight assistants or deputies have carried on active patrol duty, and al- though some of them patrol areas greater than the state of Vermont, yet wild life has been safeguarded to a remarkable degree.

Sufficient fish were liberated during the year 1915 to furnish every resident of the state with sixteen fish. The hatcheries and egg collecting stations have been operated to their full capacity and the streams of the state are already showing the result.

The department of commercial fisheries, established in 1914, has accumulated im- portant data on the fisheries of the state and has been instrumental in aiding in the | development of certain neglected fishery ' resources.

The attainments recorded in the twenty- j fourth Biennial Report indicate that much ' has been accomplished during the period from July 1, 1914, to June 30, 1910, towards the conservation of fish and game resources in the state of California and that the people of the state may justly be proud of the board which administers these resources. Certainly no other fish and game commission has accomplished more in the same period of time.

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

19

HOW LONG?

How long ! How long, will the people of the state of California allow officers in state employ to be murdered by aliens, many of whom go unpunished?

Several years ago Bert Blanchard, a deputy of the Fish and Game Commis- sion, was found dead in the hills of Contra Costa County. He had been shot by some hunter, probably an alien. Some years after Ernest Reynaud, an- other deputy of the commission, was killed by Italian fishermen near Green- brae. Mr. Reynaud, along with M. S. Clark, had arrested two Italian fisher- men. When a third Italian was taken into the boat as intei"preter a fight fol- lowed, with the result that Mr. Reynaud was killed and Mr. Clark, being thrown out of the boat, only succeeded in saving his life by swimming to shore. Fortu- nately the man responsible was appre- hended and sent to San Quentin for life. Soon after Deputy Frank P. Cady of Susanville was shot in the leg by an Indian violator. In the discharge of his duties Deputy George J. Rodolph was shot by two market hunters near Los Banos. The guilty man was acquitted by a .iury and his companion was discharged on a preliminary examination.

As we go to press word comes that Deputies Ray Heacock and Richard Squire were murdered by aliens on Bouldin Island near Terminus, San Joa- quin County. Deputy Squire was found in the boat, shot through the head and the boat and his clothing riddled with bullets. The body of Deputy Heacock has not been found at the date of writing. Earlier the same night two white fisher- men, at the point of revolvers, were told to move on by four Italian fishermen. The same men later killed these two deputies while they were in the discharge of their duties.

Pennsylvania's answer to outrages of this kind was a law prohibiting the carry- ing of firearms by aliens. At the time this law was passed it was pointed out that a very lai'ge percentage of all the murders in Pennsylvania were committed by aliens. The measure was, therefore, a measure not only to more largely pro- tect fish and game, but to protect human life. Will California take the same steps to stop crimes of this sort?

THE CLOSED SEASON.

The coming few months are especially set aside as a closed season when no hunting whatever is allowed. The most fundamental law of conservation is that animals must be protected during the breeding season. If the parents are killed at this time the young are left to starve. Animals during the breeding season be- come remarkably tame and the killing of them at this time is not sport but wanton murder. Do your share to protect all wild life on its breeding grounds and see that all your friends and neighbors do likewise.

BOY SCOUT COOPERATION.

Believing that many of our readers will be interested in seeing what boy scouts in this state are doing for the conservation of wild life we are instituting a depart- ment in which the scouts will have a chance to demonstrate their work. Only a beginning has been made in this coopera- tive work and we may expect to see a steady improvement in the output of the boys.

The Fish and Game Commission is en- deavoring to do its share by furnishing free stereopticon lectures to the different troops.

HEAVY PENALTY IMPOSED FOR SMUGGLING DUCKS.

A. L. Mason, of Los Banos, was ar- rested and fined $500 and sentenced to 150 days imprisonment for attempting to smuggle ducks to the San Francisco mar- kets. Mason had 457 ducks in a small machine, and was headed for San Fran- cisco, when by merest chance he was ap- prehended. He appealed to Night Watch- man Michael Collins of Redwood City to help him fix a blow-out, and in the search for a new inner tube the ducks were un- covered. The sentence, imposed by Jus- tice of the Peace George Seely of Red- wood City, is the heaviest on record for an offense of this kind.

THE FOOD OF DUCKS IN CALIFORNIA.

If increase of food supply means in- creased numbers of a game species, it is reasonable to believe that were it possible to furnish artificially additional food for waterfowl, greater numbers would not only be attracted to this state, but many would doubtless remain and breed. The

20

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Fig. 3.

Large Loch Leven trout taken in the Owens River by Guy H. Dusenbery of Bishop, Inyo County. Photograph by J. H. Von Blon.

The large Loch Leven trout shown above was taken in the Owens River, about twelve miles north of Bishop, Inyo County, by Mr. Guy H. Dusenbery in November, 1916. A huge hook — probably an Indian's — was found imbedded in its jaw.. Probably as a result of this hook the fish was of light weight con- sidering its size. In good condition it would probably have weighed eight pounds. The size of the fish is remarkable in that Loch Leven trout planted by the Fish and Game Commission in the Owens River but seven years ago. The weight of this fish, therefore, indicates a growth of approximately a pound a year.

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

21

inroads ou the natural food supply made by reclamation can be counterbalanced by artificial planting of those plants furnish- ing food for waterfowl. More and more interest is being taken in this conserva- tion measure.

To the man or the club seeking in- formation on the proper food plants to grow we recommend the following bulle- tins :

Three important wild-duck foods, U. S. Dept. Agric. Bur. Biol. Surv., Circ. 81, pp. 1-19. Five important wild-duck foods, U. S.

Dept. Agric. Bull. 58, pp. 1-19. Eleven important wild-duck foods, U. S. Dept. Agric. Bull. 205, pp. 1-26.

All of these bulletins deal more largely with Eastern conditions, however, and nothing but experiment will demonstrate the value of many of the species for our conditions. In order that more detailed information be available for Californians, the Bureau of Education, Publicity and Research of the Fish and Game Com- mission has begun an investigation into the food of wild ducks. Hundreds of stomachs have been collected and the con- tents of these are being analyzed and the results tabulated. Already nearly a hun- dred stomachs have been examined. When the investigation is completed, evidence as to the seeds, roots and bulbs most often fed upon by the different species of wild ducks will be at hand. It will then be possible to make better recommendations as to the best native food plants to grow in order to attract waterfowl.

STATE FAIR EXHIBIT.

The Fish and Game Commission main- tained an extensive and interesting ex- hibit at the California State Fair, held at Sacramento during the early part of September. Owing to the greatly in- creased number of exhibitors at this year's fair, the space allotted the commission's exhibit was not as much as desired, but, fortunately, was so located as to be di- rectly in front of the main entrance and in the path of the thousands of visitors, both when entering and leaving the grounds.

A unique octagonal pavilion, forty by forty feet, was constructed of fish nets that had been confiscated from fishermen

using them in an illegal manner. An ad- ditional lot of confiscated nets, making a pile twelve feet high by twenty feet wide, was shown on the outside of the pavilion.

Lai-ge aquaria showing splendid adult specimens of various species of trout, also troughs showing the propagation of trout from the egg to the time when the young fish are liberated, attracted much atten- tion.

All of the species of trout to be found in this state were shown in jars, also some twenty-five species of freshwater fish taken from the San Joaquin and Sacra- mento delta districts, together with photo- graphs showing deputies of the commis- sion engaged in seining and distributing these fish. Portable pens containing pheasants, quail and deer from the State Game Farm at Hay ward, together with mounted specimens of birds and mammals, did much to complete the attractiveness of the exhibit.

There were photographs of the fish hatcheries, the fish distribution car, and a series of splendid pictures showing the work done by the commission in collecting and distributing golden trout to the almost inaccessible lakes and streams of the high Sierras by means of mule pack train. Fish-culturists of the commission were in attendance to explain the artificial method of propagation. The thousands of people who viewed the exhibits went away v/ith a better understanding of the splendid work that is being accomplished by the California Fish and Game Commission.

PRACTICAL EDUCATION.

The Irving School of Riverside. River- side County, has received the honor of being listed by the New York Audubon Society as one of the ten schools in the United States "standing highest in the contest relating to the identification of local and migratory birds." The fifth grade of the school sent in a list of eighty- one species of birds observed in the near vicinity. Hundreds of schools in the United States entered the contest.

To increase the appreciation of Cali- fornia's many songbirds, the San Diego County Board of Education requested all grades and high schools to give particular study to birds from November 6 to 17, as preparation for a contest based on compositions written on the following

22

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Fig. 4. The Fish and Game Commission exhibit at the State Fair, September, 1916.

subjects : "What I observed in one week," "Bird nests," "Mountain birds," "Our most useful songsters," "Sea birds," and any subject requiring keen observation. The papers were graded on quality and the length of each was left to the discre- tion of the teachers.

The exposition company offered 100 free admissions for the best 100 papers, and 15 medals for the best 15 papers. Papers were graded by November 14 and the best compositions chosen from every grade and one from every class in the high school. The best products of the

art department, showing birds, were ex- hibited at the exposition, and remained through Bird House Day celebration, held December 15. The commercial depart- ments exhibited designs, the sewing classes exhibited bird embroideries and the music classes sang bird songs.

In our opinion, studies of this kind are of far more value than many of the pre- scribed courses of stud,v. A child that is "taught to read a roadside as well as to read a book" is worth more to himself and more to the community in which he lives.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

23

THE TREATY WITH CANADA.

Couservationists the country over are rejoicing because of the passage of the Canadian Treaty, which supplements the Federal Migratory Bird Law. The fol- lowing is a summary of the main pro- visions :

1. That no bird important to agricul- ture because of insect-destroying pro- clivities shall be shot at any time.

2. That no open season on any species of game birds shall extend for a longer period than three and one-half mouths. _

3. That both countries shall so restrict open seasons on game birds as to prevent their being taken during the breeding season.

4. That there shall be no shipment from one country to the other of birds which are taken contrary to law.

atically record arrivals and departures and consequently miss the elation as evi- denced in a card recently received from one of our readers.

"Winter Resorts.

"social items.

"]Mr. Robin has arrived at the Lastreto Woods, Atherton, and was very busy investigating conditions and making arrangements for Mrs. Robin and his nu- merous family preparatory to their cus- tomary winter sojourn. His rotund form was visible on Tuesday morning, the 7th inst."

Probably few others in the vicinity of Atherton, San Mateo County, even no- ticed that the western robin had returned for his winter stay. Ignorance regarding bird life in California is great even among

Fig. 5. Deputies of the Fish and Game Commission at work in the marshes of the San Joaquin Valley. From left to right are deputies Smalley, Brownlow, Smith, Maloney, Kimball, Squires, Hoen and Matthews. Photograph by J. E. Newsome.

The treaty is to remain in force for fifteen years and will continue in force beyond that time, provided the contracting powers do not give twelve months notice of a wish to terminate it.

MIGRATION RECORDS.

Many people in Eastern states obtain considerable pleasure by making notes regarding the arrival and departure of birds. Few people in California system-

people of leisure. We trust that as years go by a keener interest will be taken in our bird life and that instead of receiving a single notice of the arrival of a winter visitant, hundreds of cards will furnish data to show the southward progress of the different species from day to day. If any of our readers are looking for a stimulating hobby let them turn their attention to the recording of the arrival and departure of migratory birds.

24

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

GOAT ISLAND BECOMES NATIONAL GAME PRESERVE.

The I'ish and Game Commission has for several years past liberated pheasants and quail on Goat Island in San Fran- cisco Bay. Both pheasants and quail have been doing well. Due to the efforts of Captain Andrews, formerly comman- dant of the Naval Training Station situ- ated on the island, who took an active interest in these birds, the island has been declared a federal game preserve.

The executive order, signed by Presi- dent Woodrow Wilson, is as follows :

It is hereby ordered that Goat Island, containing aliout one hundred and forty- one acres of land, situated in San Fran- cisco Bay, approximately midway between the cities of San Francisco and Oakland, Cal., shown upon Coast Survey Chart No. r>5ol, and as segregated by the broken

A TAMALPAIS GAME REFUGE A POSSIBILITY.

Large holdings on the northern water- shed of Mount Tamalpais have been pur- chased by the Marin Municipal Water District. Much of this territory was formerly leased by the Lagunitas Rod and Gun club and game is very plentiful. Fearing that the opening of this area to the public would have the effect of de- stroying the game and thus taking pleasure from those who will use this ter- ritory for outings, a movement is on foot to make of this land a state game refuge, either under the section which allows the creation of reservations on private lands or by legislative enactment. Congressman William Kent, who is backing the scheme, has offered to contribute a sufficient sum to police the refuge.

					*i. 4		^^»^. ^S'.iff>,	m	m
	?1	■MHHHBj	HHHH	PilRHQ^Hj	P
■1	^^^^^^^
K	J^^,aJL « "O -< ^j
Bttr-'
			II	" '* /-I* .-,.	1	ytf	m	i^S	1
			H|	j^^	^^	_,-■ f ',i- y« '■-'-■* ff^vw	m	M	hm
			^^^1	^^^^1	B^^:	"■' * ' '	'.	..-v'.'-^^I^P	^■^i '~v<i'i.
.<■>■-'■	"?ii^		m	Hi	^^^H^^>'	^hSa^'i:-^-		- - V ~ - ,■

Fig. 6. Saving fish from overflowed areas in the Yolo Basin. The fish saved from death in this way are planted in other streams of the state. Photograph by McCurry Company, August, 1916.

line upon the diagram hereto attached and made a part of this order, is hereby reserved and set apart for the use of the Department of Agriculture as a pre- serve and breeding ground for native birds, sub.iect, however, to the use of the island for naval, military and lighthouse purposes in conformity to requirements of executive orders heretofore issued.

It is unlawful for any person to hunt, trap, capture, wilfully disturb, or kill any bird of any kind whatever, or take the eggs of such bird within the limits of this reservation, except under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture.

Warning is expressly given to all per- sons not to commit any of the acts herein enumerated under the penalties of sec- tion 84 of the United State Criminal Code, approved March 4, 1909 (35 Stat. 1104).

This reservation to be known as San Francisco Bay reservation.

Woodrow Wilson,

The White House, August 9. 191G.

TURKEY BUZZARD AND DISEASE. Support for our contention that the turkey buzzard can not be considered a serious menace so far as its disease- carrying proclivities are concerned, as reported in California Fish and Game for October, 1915 (Vol. 1, page 222), has come in a recent bulletin of the United States Biological Survey (Common birds of southeastern United States in relation to agriculture. Fanners Bull. 755). On pages thirty-eight and thirty-nine of this bulletin Mr. W. L. McAfee makes the following defense for the buzzard :

The turkey buzzard now is. threatened with persecution in the land where here- tofore it has received the most zealous protection, for the bird has been accused of spreading such diseases of live stock as hog cholera and anthrax. The charge that it spreads hog cholera has never been demonstrated, and until this is done

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

25

Fi<r. 7. Kern Buttes at mouth of Volcano Creek, a stream noted as the home of the golden ° trout. Photograph by A. D. Ferguson.

be doubted that stock diseases would be as widely distributed as now if turkey buzzards were elimiaated, as has been proposed. What amounts to proof of this is the fact that hog cholera at times is virulent and seriously destructive in regions where there are few or no turkey buzzards, as in certain northern states and Canadian provinces.

HABITS AND FOOD OF THE ROAD- RUNNER IN CALIFORNIA.

Results of further investigations of the economic status of nongame birds insti- tuted by the Fish and Game Commission in 1911 have just been published under the title : "Habits and food of the road- runner in California." (Univ. of Cal. Pub. Zool., vol. 17, no. 5, pp. 21-58, pis. 1-4, 2 figs, in text). For many years sportsmen have accused the roadrunner of destroying the eggs and young of valley quail and a study of the food habits of the bird was ordered. The contents of many stomachs of roadrunners were analyzed, but the results as shown by the following summary do not show the road- runner to be a serious enemy of valley quail or other birds. Many specimens were secured in localities where quail were breeding but these showed no evi- dence that quails' nests had been dis- turbed.

The roadrunner {Geococcyx calif orni- anvs) is unique in many ways. Of par- ticular interest are its breeding habits

.iudgment should be suspended. Its re- lation to anthrax has been investigated, with the result that in the distribution of the disease the bird must be considered a minor agency as compared with man and various domestic and certain wild animals.

The nature of their food would indi- cate that buzzards have strong digestive powers. The spores of anthrax, or char- bon, a virulent stock disease, have been shown by two independent investigations to be destroyed by passing through the alimentary canals of buzzards. Anthrax spores are not destroyed in the digestive tracts of other carrion-feeding animals, as the dog, cat, hog, chicken, or opossum.

It is true that buzzards may carry the germs of anthrax or other stock disease on their plumage, feet, or bills, and thus distribute them ; but all the other ani- mals just mentioned may similarly carry disease germs on the surfaces of their bodies, as may also flies, domestic pigeons and other poultry, horses, mules, and cattle, not to mention members of the human family. In fact, at the same time that steps are being taken greatly to reduce or exterminate a wild bird — the buzzard — which may possibly play a minor part in the transmission of an- thrax, farmers are harboring several domestic animals that have far greater possibilities as spreaders of the disease. The fact that anthrax may be carried by flies is more than sufficient to exj)lain the most severe epidemics.

Obviously, it is unfair to attempt to place the blame for general dissemination of stock disease on the buzzard. Consid- ering the multitude of ways in which these diseases may be spread, it can not

26

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

U

-S>o

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

27

and especially food habits. It is doubtful if an investigation of the food habits of any other American bird could have yielded such spectacular results.

The investigation here reported upon included analysis of eighty-three stomachs of roadrunners taken in southern Cali- fornia in 1911 and 1912 and also a sur- vey of all available literature relative to the food of the roadrunner in California.

The eighty-three stomachs represented birds taken every month of the year with the exception of March. The analysis of the stomach contents showed that prac- tically 90 per cent (90.077c) of the total food was made up of animal matter and that slightly less thau 10 per cent was of vegetable material. Nearly all of the vegetable matter was of one kind, the fruit and seeds of the sour berry (Rhus iiitcf/rifolia). Insects and certain verte- brates composed the animal food. Chief among the insects found were beetles (1S.2 per cent), grasshoppers and crick- ets (3G.82 per cent), cutworms and cater- ])illars (7 per cent), cicadas and other hemipterous insects (5 per cent), ants, bees, and wasps (4.24 per cent), and scorpions (3.G7 per cent). Lizards of three species (3.73 per cent), one bird (l.fjG per cent), and two wild mice of two different species, composed the verte- brate food.

The results of stomach examination substantiated rather than altered pub- lished statements regarding the food of the roadrunner. From published sources, however, came added information as to the number of snakes and lizards con- sumed by this bird and practically all of the information regarding its bird- eating habits. One lizard, the whip-tailed lizard (Ctipmidophonis) appears to be eaten more often than any other species.

The roadrunner's individual capacity for food is great, for an average full stomach contains about ten cubic centime- ters of food. The collective capacity,

however, is small, due to fewness of in- dividuals. The amount of damage possi- ble (and this must be said also of the potential good) is greatly minimized be- cause there is no concentration of indi- viduals in any one place. A wide variety of food items from small insects to rep- tiles and mammals is consumed.

Little evidence was obtained that the roadrunner is detrimental to man's inter- ests. The destruction of a few beneficial insects and birds, and of certain lizards usually considered beneficial, can alone be taken as evidence against it. Even if the consumption of a certain proportion of all of the above as food be a fixed habit, the end result is minimized when the facts are taken into consideration that the roadrunner is a bird of the desert regions rather than of the cultivated fields and that the species exists in but small numbers.

A preponderance of evidence favors the bird. The destruction of such unques- tioned pests as grasshoppers, cutworms, caterpillars, and wireworms, and of such rodents as mice is to be desired even if the amount of destruction be relatively small. The taking of this sort of food on wild land is evidence that this bird when feeding in cultivated fields is likely to be distinctly beneficial.

Evidently the roadrunner never turns its attention to any sort of cultivated crops as do those birds with granivorouis and frugivorous habits. On the contrary, a study of its food habits shows that the roadrunner feeds upon the insect and rodent pests which attack cultivated crops, and furthermore that it destroys hairy caterpillars, a pest not commonly attacked by other birds.

The investigation has also shown that the bird-eating habit of the roadrunner has probably been exaggerated and that the killing of the roadrunner by man as an injurious species is unjustified. The benefits conferred bv the roadrunner in

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28

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Fig. 12. Decoy geese. Property of "Goose" Lewis of Dixon, California. Photograph by

George Neale, May, 1916.

the destruction of insect and rodent pests plus its esthetic value leaves a balance distinctly in favor of the bird and marks it as a beneficial rather than an injurious species.

A "PAT ON THE BACK." We have scrupulously refrained from publishing the many letters praising the work of the commission which come to the editor's desk, but the following edi- torial from the Ukiah Times for Novem- ber 1, 1916, is such a fine appreciation that we can not refrain from giving our readers a chance to see it. Such a "pat on the back" is certainly encouraging.

GAME COMMISSIONERS DOING VALU- ABLE WORK.

"Through the courtesy of the State Board of Fish and Game Commissioners a copy of California Fish and Game for October lies on The Times desk. It is the official monthly publication of the commission and the latest issue is the fourth number of the second volume. Not only is the board to be complimented on the contents of the October issue, but the editorial staff deserves commendation for the typographical makeup and neat appearance of the pamphlet.

"When the public realizes that all the commissioners are engaged in a labor of love, serving without financial considera- tion, the energy, judgment and hard work which they are throwing into their official task will be seen to entitle them to be regarded as mighty faithful servants of the people ; this means of the public as a body, for while sportsmen are most keenly interested in the work of the commission, the propagation and conservation of game form a state asset, in the benefits of which every citizen figures.

"Inasmuch as the commissioners draw no salary, The Times is of the opinion that they should at least be made to feel that in a measure their reward lies in public appreciation of the value of their services. They are engaged in a large and important work, and the intelligent and faithful performance of their duties will prove of immense value to the state."

OBTAIN AN AUTHORITATIVE WORK ON PHEASANT BREEDING FREE. Through the courtesy of the American Game Protective Association we are enabled to offer free of charge to game breeders in this state a limited number of copies of E. A. Quarles' authoritative work "American Pheasant Breeding and Shooting." Everyone engaged in pheas- ant breeding and everyone who con- templates rearing these birds should possess a copy of this book. Make appli- cation to Bureau of Education, Publicity and Research, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Berkeley, Cal., and include six cents in stamps to cover postage.

GAME BIRDS FOR SALE. The stock of game birds at present held on the State Game Farm at Hayward will be sold at reasonable prices to game breeders. The species represented are: ring-necked, golden and silver pheasants and valley quail. Ducks of the following species are also offered: mallard, pintail, spoon- bill, cinnamon teal, green-winged teal and fulvous tree-ducks. Apply to Superintendent, State Game Farm, Hayward, Cal., for prices.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

29

HATCHERY NOTES.

W. H. Sheblby, Editor.

COMPLETION OF HATCHERY OPERA- TIONS FOR THE SEASON 1916.

Oil November 7, the fish distribution car left Sisson with the last shipment of trout fry for southern California, and this completed the work of the hatcheries for the season of 1916. While the total number of trout fry distributed during the season of 1916 has been less than during- 1915, we believe that, taken as a whole, the results have been more satis- factory. We were able to give the fish a wider distribution this season owing to the fact that we had more hatcheries in operation and were better equipped to hold and rear the fry at the smaller sta- tions. With the improvements made at Bear Valley and Snow Mountain stations, and the construction of Fort Seward and Almanor hatcheries, our facilities for rearing and distributing trout fry have l)eeii greatly increased. With Sisson hatchery relieved of a portion of the work of hatching, rearing and distributing the fish, overcrowding of the fry in the hatch- ing troughs was avoided to a considerable extent and as a result those distributed this season were stronger, healthier fish and reached the streams in better condi- tion than in former years.

Improvements made in our distribution car 1, the installation of a larger and more efficient engine and air compressor in car 2 and a better system of the distribution of air in the cans on both cars have been contributing factors in the successful results obtained in fish distri- bution work this year.

From Sisson hatchery we distributed 1,950,000 rainbow, 1,850,000 eastern brook, 1,725,000 Loch Leven, 950,000 black-spotted, 2,800,000 steelhead and 75,000 German brown, a total of 9,350,000 trout fry.

From Tahoe hatcheries, 209,000 rain- bow, 50,000 eastern brook, and 2,765,000 black-spotted, a total of 3,024,000 trout fry, were distributed.

Steelhead trout fry to the number of 490,000 were distributed from Ukiah hatchery and 184,000 steelhead fry from Snow Mountain station.

From Fort Seward hatchery there were distributed 95,000 rainbow, 132,000 black- spotted and 924.000 steelhead, a total of 1,151,000 trout fry.

From Almanor hatchery 202,000 rain- bow trout fry were distributed.

From Brookdale hatchery 881,000 steel- head fry were distributed, from Bear Val-

Fig. 13. A rainbow trout, 29i-^ inches in length. Caught by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mason of Fresno, at Bass Lake, Madera County. Photograph by R. S. Kimball.

30

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

ley halclun-y 750,000 rainbow, and from Marlott-Carson hatchery r>ri,000 eastern brook, making a total number distributed from all of our hatcheries of 1(>,0S7,0(X) trout fry.

A NEW FOOD AND GAME FISH FOR

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST

COUNTIES.

During the early spring of 191G wc endeavored to obtain a supply of small striped bass for the southern California coast county streams by seining in San Pablo Bay.

On May 2S a shipment of about 300 small striped bass were obtained and shipped to Senator E. S. Kigdon of Cam- bria, San Luis Obispo County, who liber- ated them in Morro Bay at the mouth of Chorro Creek. Several times thi'ough the summer months an endeavor was made to continue this work, but weather and tide conditions were not favorable and efforts were not successful. The work was again taken up during the middle of October and, as conditions were favorable at that time, a fine shipment was procured. The seining operations were carried on near Vallejo under the supervision of Deputy H. E. Foster. Deliveries were made to Senator Rigdon, who planted 600 striped bass in the mouth of San Luis Creek, at San Luis Bay, a.nd 400 at the mouth of Corral de Piedra Creek near Pismo, in San Luis Obispo County. The Los An- geles division of the Fish and Game Com- mission received 2,200 striped bass, and 200 of these were liberated in Anaheim Bay and 2,000 in the lagoon at Sunset Beach, Orange County. A third con- signment consisting of 1,800 striped bass was delivered to H. R. Asher, secretary of the San Diego Rod and Reel Club, and liberated in Mission Bay, San Diego County. If the results of these plantings of striped bass are successful, a new and valuable game and food fish will be added to the waters of southern California.

SCREEN AND LADDER OPERATIONS. During the past two or three months considerable progress has been made in the installation of fish ladders. The fol- lowing is a list of the ladders that have been completed, which have not been here- tofore reported :

The Valdor Mining Company has com- pleted the construction of a fishway over it.'; dam in Canyon Creek, Trinity County.

The same company has installed a screen in its canal diverting water from Canyon Creek, Trinity County.

A fish ladder has been completed over the dam of the Northern California Power ('ompany in Tehama County, at Inskip Ditch, below south power house.

Under the supervision of Deputy J. S. White, a fish ladder has been installed over the Butters Dam, in Big Backbone Creek, in Shasta County.

A ladder has been installed over the Ellsworth Dam in Campbell Creek. This dam is the property of Santa Clara County.

William Shaughnessy has completed the construction of a fish ladder over his dam in Sierra County, in the south branch of Middle Yuba River.

The dam of C. J. York, in Middle Yuba River, Sierra County, has been provided with a fishway.

Overflow and underflow current fish laddei's are now under construction over the Mendota Weir, in San Joaquin River, Fresno County. This weir is the prop- erty of the Miller & Lux Company.

The Crown-Willamette Paper Company has commenced the constractiou of a new fish ladder over the Floriston Dam, in Truckee River, Nevada County.

A fish ladder is being installed over the dam of the Anderson Irrigation Project, in Sacramento River, Shasta County.

From recent reports received from Santa Clara County, we find that screens have been installed in irrigation ditches of J. W. Dickson, diverting water from Peni- tencia Creek ; M. D. Knoble of Berry- essa ; P. Mason of San Jose ; G. W. Page, diverting water from Campbell Creek ; Sorosis Fruit Company. Campbell Creek ; and La Hoydie Irrigation Company, Campbell Creek.

Two new screens have been installed by the Trinity Gold Mining and Reduc- tion Company, in Trinity County. The Western States Gas and Electric and the La Grange Company have screens ready for installation in their ditches in Trinity County as soon as the water is turned in next spring.

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

31

A screen has also been installed in a ditch diverting water from the east fork of Stewart's Fork of Trinity River, Trin- ity County, by Mrs. A. Baudrey.

The California-Oregon Power Company is planning to install a large screen of special construction in its canal diverting water from Shasta River, Siskiyou County.

of the north coast counties well stocked, and it is our intention to also propagate enough salmon fry to keep up the supply of this valuable commercial fish in Eel River.

Work has been completed for the season on Almanor hatchery located at Lake Almanor, Plumas County. A hatchery building 22 feet by 40 feet, equipped with

^t4l .

^r^^m- ■-'- iir^^*^-' - -^ '

Fig. 14. A "shad battery" at Yuba City hatchery. The photograph clearly shows the manner in which shad eggs are hatched.

PREPARATIONS FOR NEXT SEASON'S HATCHERY OPERATIONS.

The construction of Fort Seward hatch- ery, Humboldt County, is nearly com- pleted and we expect to have the station in first-class shape for salmon hatching operations this season.

Improvements have been made in the hatchery building by the installation of new hatching troughs. The hatching troughs and the building inside and out have been painted. The superintendent's residence has been completed and addi- tions to living quarters for assistants have been made.

Fort Seward hatchei'y will be well equipped for handling both salmon and trout. We will be able to rear enough trout at this station to keep the streams

sixteen hatching boxes and all necessary paraphernalia for operating the hatchery next season, and comfortable living quar- ters for the employees have been con structed. A large fish-holding tank, fish racks, flume and trap have been built and stored ready for installation as soon as operations are commenced- in the spring. The work was finished on November 17.

A small eyeing station consisting of ten hatching troughs has been installed at Domingo Springs.

A large fish-holding tank, racks, flume, trap, etc., have been built and tools and egg collecting apparatus are stored at Rice Creek Spawning Station, near Do- mingo Springs, ready for installation as soon as operations are commenced. The necessary tent, cook stove and complete

32

CAIJFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

camp equipment have also been stored at Kice Creek station and Domingo Springs. During the latter part of September the construction of the Rae Lakes egg collecting station was completed. Mate- rials, supplies, tools, etc., were taken to the lake over the Oak Creek Pass and stored in a firmly constructed galvanized iron building S feet by 14 feet, which was built during the summer. A supply of provisions was also cached to be used by the assistants next spring when they make the trip in to commence the egg collecting work. Rack and trap material was also taken into the station and preparations made for installing the paraphernalia

On October 1, operations were com- menced in an endeavor to obtain a supply of eastern brook trout eggs from Marlett Lake, Nevada. The California Fish and Game Commission and the Nevada State Fish Commission entered into an agree- ment to cooperate in the work and divide the eggs secured equally between the two commissions. The eggs are taken from tributaries of Marlett Lake, near the lake shore and from Hobart Creek at Red House and transported by teams to Verdi hatchery, where they are eyed and pre- pared for shipment to Sisson hatchery. Heavy rain and snow storms set in, how- ever, and it was not until October 12

Fig. 15. The McCloud River station of the United States Bureau of Fisheries. It is here that most of the salmon eggs are secured for stocking the streams of California.

when egg collecting operations are com- menced. It was necessary that absolutely every article for the operation of the station, as well as camp equipment and food for the men engaged in the work, be foreseen and taken in during the summer, as the assistants will have to go into the station next spring over the Oak Creek Pass, via Diamond Peak, the highest point of which is over 12,000 feet, and will be able to pack only their blankets with them.

The rainbow trout eggs taken at Rae Lakes station will be hatched and reared at the new hatchery now under construc- tion on Oak Creek, Inyo County, from which point they will be distributed in the streams of southern California.

that our assistants were able to leave Carson City, Nevada, on the trip int| Marlett Lake. On account of the heav fall of snow, which was from one to thre feet deep, they were unable to get farthe| than Red House. Temporary camp wa made at this place and on the fifteenth the crew went on to the lake on sno;v shoes. Marlett Lake was found to be co^ ered with a thin coat of ice. As no fis were running, due to the heavy stori and cold weather, the crew returned tl Red House, where a few trout were run- ning in Hobart Creek, and where racks and trap had been installed. On the seventeenth, camp was moved to Marlett Lake and racks installed in the largest I stream flowing into the lake. The run of

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

33

spawning- fish soon started, bnt owing to the continuance of the storm and ex- tremely cold weather, the runs at both Marlett Lake and Hobart Creek have been very light and it is improbable that the take of eggs will be large. Up to December 1, 1916, 569,000 eggs had been secured.

MOUNT WHITNEY HATCHERY. Mount Whitney hatchery, located on Oak Creek, four and a half miles from Independence, the thriving county seat of

of modern hatcheries and batteries that will make up this station when the whole plan is finished.

The ample supply of pure water in Oak Creek that gushes from the granite rocks of the basal slopes of the Whitney range is sufficient to furnish this plant with all the water necessary for its de- velopment for a quarter of a century.

An almost unlimited supply of eggs can be obtained from the Rae Lakes, if fishing is prohibited in these waters. To insure a supply of rainbow trout eggs for

Fig. 16. Screen installed in the canal of the Northern California Power Company on the Colman Ditch from Battle Creek, Tehama County, California. The screen wheel is ten feet in diameter and the water seven feet deep. Photograph by A. E. Culver.

Inyo County, is nearing completion. This beautiful structure, when completed, will be- the most modern and up-to-date hatch- ery in the world. It is constructed of granite and gabro, and the coloring of the rubble walls blending harmoniously into the background of giant peaks that form the west wall of the valley leaves an impression that will long be remem- bered. The work of the Department of Engineering on this structure will be completed about January 1, 1917. The hatchery equipment and apparatus neces- sary to handle the millions of eggs that are to be hatched at this station in the near future will be made by the employees of the hatchery department. The building is 200 feet long by 45 feet wide, and has a hatchery capacity of 6,000,000 eggs. This building is the first unit of a series

all time, the Rae Lakes basin should be set aside as a state fish preserve during the coming session of the legislature. This can be done by creating a fish and game district of the basin in which the lakes are situated and prohibiting fishing in the district set aside as a preserve. This is necessary to insure a supply of eggs for this new station. When the new trail is completed to the lakes, hundreds of anglers will rush there to enjoy the won- derful fishing that these lakes afford. There are thousands of rainbow trout in these lakes, but to furnish eggs sufficient for a station of the size of the Mount Whitney hatchery, it will be necessary to conserve these fish for spawning purposes. The importance of Mount Whitney hatchery is best understood when it is realized that the whole of the state south

34

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Fig. 17. A view of one of the Rae lakes. Eggs for the new Mount Whitney hatchery will be

secured here.

of the Tehachapi Mountains and as far i California's fame as an anglers' paradise north as the Yosemite Valley will receive ' grows. It will be able to keep stocked its annual supply of rainbow trout fry those streams depleted by the increasing from this hatchery. Mount Whitney , demands made upon them as the popula-

hatchery is not built for a day or a decade, but is planned for the coming years, as

tion increases.

COMMERCIAL FISHERY NOTES.

X. B. SCOFIELD, Editor.

THE 1916 TUNA PACK.

The 191G tuna pack for California will exceed that of last year or of any pre- ceding year, but with all that the year has been a disappointing one for the can- ners. With a strong demand for all the tuna they could put in cans, nearly all of the packers had improved or enlarged their plants, and more fishermen were employed with the intention of doubling their output if jwssible. Even with the incentive of a higher price the fishermen were able to take but few more fish than last year. Although the pack is a little larger this year it is certain that the fish were not nearly so plentiful. We will always be uncertain as to what the tuna catch will be, for it is a pelagic fish and its feeding ground and possibly its place of spawning shifts with the shifting cur- rents.

Last year large albacore (tuna) were found to be plentiful far out in the open

sea fifty to seventy miles southwest of San Clemente Island. On account of the great distance from the canneries it was unprofitable to go after them with the small boats now employed. This year a few larger fishing boats were built with the idea of going after these large fish, but they did not succeed in locating them.

Some of the more successful Japanese fishermen who have prospected in these off-shore regions believe that fishing "banks" will be found where albacore may be taken the year round. They also be- lieve that the "run" of albacore is not so much a movement up the coast as it is a movement toward the coast from these off-shore banks.

There are a number of reasons for this belief. The fishermen have been unable to follow schools in any extensive move- ment up the coast The fish usually ap- pear first well off shore and later move closer in. A school of exceptionally large

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

35

albacore will appear at one place and will not be taken later either to the north or to the south. In 1914 a school of very small albacore averaging four and one- lialf pounds in weight appeared off San I'edro. These fish were not traced either to the north or to the south of this place.

It has been demonstrated that such fish as the herring and sardine of Europe do not migrate up and down the coast as formerly supposed, but that the movement is shoreward from the open sea, and that while the herring are all of one species, each locality has a race of herring that in quality or size is peculiar to and constant in that locality. If there was a general movement along the coast the character of the fish in the different places along the coast would not be constant. The herring on our Pacific coast shows this same race difference in different localities, and it is barely possible that the albacore may be found to exhibit these race differ- ences at different localities along our California coast.

It is of interest to know that the young of the albacore have never been observed. To our knowledge, the smallest albacore captured in California weighed three pounds. No albacore with noticeably de- veloped spawn have been taken by any of the cannery fishermen. The ovaries and spermaries of the fish usually show no development at all and it is only rarely that one with even immature spawn is observed. The largest albacore so far recorded weighed seventy-six pounds. This

one, with several others nearly as large, was taken near San Pedro during the last week of October, 1916.

There were 397 fishing boats employed in the tuna fishery this year, each boat being manned by a crew of three. Half of the tuna fishermen are Japanese and this one-half catches 85 per cent of the fish.

A YELLOW-FINNED ALBACORE FROM THE MEXICAN COAST.

A fish sent to us for identification from near Mazatlan, Mexico, has been pro- nounced by Dr. C. H. Gilbert the yellow- finned albacore, the albacore most com- mon in Japan and usually called the Japanese albacore. It is found in the Hawaiian Islands and a few individuals have been taken in southern California by the fishermen while fishing for the long- finned albacore or tuna. It is reported that these fish are plentiful near Mazat- lan.

MUSSELS GROW RAPIDLY.

In investigating the rate of growth of some of the sea animals in Monterey Bay, Dr. Harold Heath, Department of Zool- ogy, Stanford University, found that the sea mussel {Mytilus calif or nianus) grows from the egg to a length of three and one- half inches in one year. He found also that both the acorn and goose barnacles reach sexual maturity at the age of eighty days.

Fig. 18. Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco. Photograph by H. H. Hunt, April 12, 1916.

36

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

A COMMERCIAL FISHERIES TAX BILL.

The Fish and Game Commission has prepared a bill, to be introduced at the next session of the legislature, which is designed to increase the revenue of the commission that it may better carry on its commercial fisheries work.

Since the legislative session of 1909, the Fish and Game Commission has received no appropriation from the state, as the revenue derived through the hunting, angling and commercial fishing licenses was deemed suflicieut for all the needs of the commission. But with these funds the game patrol service has been greatly extended, the commission's activities liave been increased and the output of trout from the hatcheries has been so enlarged to meet the ever-increasing demand for stocking the streams that the revenue de- rived from the hunting and angling li- censes is all needed for these purposes. There is left then for the commercial fish- eries the revenue derived from the com- mercial fishing licenses and the wholesale fish dealers licenses, which together amount to less than $35,000 per year. This amount is entirely inadequate to carry on an effective fisheries patrol ; to propagate commercial fishes ; to carry on the investigation work so necessary for the conservation of our fisheries ; and to pay the fishery's proportionate share of the executive expense of the commission.

In supplying the revenue for the support of the commission, each activity under its jurisdiction should bear its pro- portionate share. As already stated, the commercial fisheries are not furnishing their proportionate share at the present time, and in the future expansion of the fisheries, which is already upon us, they will fall short still more.

Within the last few years our fishing industries, especially those carried on in the open sea, such as the tuna, halibut, sardine and trawl fisheries, have devel- oped enormously. There is now a very

great need of a better fisheries patrol and of a thorough investigation of the com- mercial fishes if we are to conserve these industries with intelligence. Some of our fisheries are bound to be developed, even without state aid, faster than we can gain the necessary knowledge for their conservation. The people will learn to eat species of fish that are now little used. Our fish are gradually being sent to more distant markets. The eastern United States is now drawing heavily on our salmon, shad, tuna and sardines, and is bound to draw more heavily on these and others of our fishes in the future. The great increase in the demand for all kinds of canned fish, is another feature we must recognize if the fisheries are to be successfully regulated in the future. Our most important problem is how to get the most out of our fisheries without injuring the source of supply. In other words, to use the interest without drawing on the principal.

Our fisheries can be adequately con- served only when we have learned the life histories of the different market fishes ; when we have learned the effect of the fishing methods in vogue, and when we know how much each fishery will yield without injuring the supply. This knowl- edge must be applied by framing such protective laws as may be necessary ; by enforcing these laws by an adequate patrol service, and by aiding species by artificial propagation where that method is feasible. These are necessary steps that should be completed as soon as possible. They are steps that should be well provided for by the state before a campaig-n is started to further develop the fisheries. To use a revenue from the fisheries at this time for any but these purposes would be a serious mistake, and any reasonable revenue which they will yield will all be needed to J carry on the conservation work now being conducted by the Fish and Game Com- . mission. t

II

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

37

CONSERVATION IN OTHER STATES.

PENNSYLVANIA ATTEMPTS TO RE- STOCK THE STATE WITH RABBITS.

The attempt has been made by the Pennsylvania Fish and Game Commission to purchase thousands of rabbits from other states to be used in restocking. Although promised carloads of rabbits from Kentucky, none was secured because those who caught the animals put them in a box or enclosure together, with a re- sult that but one rabbit remained the following morning, it having killed the others. An offer of thirty cents apiece f. 0. b. at their shipping point also failed to secure rabbits from localities where they were said to be so abundant as to be a nuisance. Instead of tens of thou- sands of rabbits which it was planned to secure only about 2,.5(X) have been obtained.

Efforts to secure quail have also failed because of the inability to purchase them at reasonable prices.

ANGLERS IN MICHIGAN WORRIED.

Anglers in Michigan are worried over the statement by Dwight Lydell, superin- tendent of one of the state fish hatcheries, to the effect that although more fish were planted this year than ever before, yet the lakes and streams of Michigan are in serious danger of being devastated of fish.

He says : "Fishing seems to be drawing more people every year and the popular varieties of fish are being removed faster than we can plant them with the small appropriation of $80,000 allowed us by the state legislature." Approximately 90,000,000 fish were planted in Michigan this year, as follows: Trout, 0,000,000; perch, 50,000,000; blue gills, 1,000,000; bass, 3,500,000; wall-eyed pike, 25,000,000.

MINNESOTA COMMISSION MAKES USE OF MOVIES.

The Minnesota Game and Fish Depart- ment has prepared moving picture films illustrating the artificial propagation of different varieties of Minnesota fish. Films of commercial fishing scenes and bird and animal life also are being pre- pared. These will be loaned, on applica- tion, to responsible organizations, and talks in explanation of the pictures will be given by the commission or the super- intendent of fisheries wherever possible.

BUTTON LAW FOR HUNTERS IN NEW YORK STATE.

A new New York game law, among other regulations, provides that all li- censed hunters must wear, conspicuously displayed, a button, at least two inches in diameter, to be furnished by the state. In other words, the hunting license must be kept in plain sight.

LIFE HISTORY NOTES.

THE SNOWY OWL AGAIN INVADES CALIFORNIA.

It is a well-known fact that the snowy owl {Nyctea nyctea) is of erratic occur- rence in eastern states. It now appears that this bird occurs periodically in this state also. Just twenty years ago (1896) a number of snowy owls invaded the northern part of California. Specimens were taken as far south as Bay Farm Island, Alameda County (Cohen in Con- dor 3, p. 185) and Santa Cruz County (Thompson in Condor 3, p. 141).

During the same year snowy owls were reported as numerous in the state of Washington (Bowles in Osprey 1, p. 81). According to H. G. Smith (Nidologist 3, p. 76) snowy owls were taken in the state of Colorado in 1886.

The following additional data on the occurrence of the snowy owl in California

in 1896 has been furnished by H. S. Prescott of Crescent City, Del Norte County :

Ely Charter of Crescent City, Del Norte County, secured two or more speci- mens, in 1896. One of these was mounted and for many years was in the possession of Mr. Jeffrey, the keeper of the Crescent City lighthouse. H. J. Lattin, residing near Areata, also saw a number of these birds in that year.

In November, 1916, a male specimen of a snowy owl, secured by Florence F. Williams on the ocean beach near the outlet of Talowa Lake, Del Norte County, was sent us by H. S. Prescott. A second specimen, a female, was secured by Mr. Prescott on November 25 between the north end of Lake Earl and the mouth of Smith River, Del Norte County. Along with this bird was a report to the effect

38

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

that Ely Charter had seen nine snowy owls between Point St. George and the mouth of Talowa Lake. Two other speci- mens are noted as having been taken in the county in a newspaper item appearing in the Humboldt Times under date of November 23. Several applications for permits to hold birds in captivity have since been sent to the Fish and Game Commission by parties in the same vicin- ity who have secured snowy owls alive.

On November IS, through the kindness of George Neale of the Sacramento Di- vision of the State Fish and Game Com- mission, we received another snowy owl, secured by Edward Bolt of Gridley, Butte County. The stomach of this bird con- tained parts of a mudhen.

The above is sufficient evidence to show that snowy owls have again made their appearance in California, probably for the first time since 1896. All three of the above specimens have found a place in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, where they will be of permanent value to the state. — H. C. Bbyant.

DUCKS ARRIVE EARLY.

Ducks arrived very early this season. Several canvasbacks were seen on San Pablo Bay August 20, 1916. Pintails were unusually abundant at this time of year, and a few bluebills were also seen. Deputy Hoen reported to me that canvas- backs were seen on Tomales Bay during the latter part of August. — H. E. Foster.

ONLY A FEW DUCKS DIE AT TULARE LAKE.

The fact that but few ducks have died this fall on Tulare Lake has again upset the theories regarding the peculiar malady which periodically has affected the water- fowl on this lake. If the water of the lake is responsible for the disease it seems strange that last year when the lake was the dryest it has been for some time, only a few birds were found dead. This year, with an abundance of fresh water and the lake 16 to 18 miles across, larger than it has been in years, no serious outbreak of the disease has occurred. On the other hand, in 1910 when the Kings River ran into t&e lake from the middle of March until the middle of October and the lake was even larger than at present, the larg- est death toll of any year resulted. It is to be hoped that the decrease in the num- ber of affected bii'ds noted during the past two years will continue and that the trouble is mainly over. — E. W. Smai-ley.

DUCK DISEASE.

The only place where duck disease has appeared in the Lower San Joaquin Valley this fall (1916) is on a small lake, formed by the overflow from Bull's Slough, on the northern border of Kern County. The lake is located just north of the old Fowler House, a landmark of the counti'y, and is about one mile wide and three and one-half miles long. On the banks along the border of the lake I estimated there were fifty dead ducks to every one hundred feet. When visiting this section on the 21st day of July, 1916, no birds were found. Apparently, therefore, the ducks began dying some time during August. — Tipton Mathews.

gambel quail transplanted.

Two dozen Gambel quail (Lophortyx gamheli), obtained from Mr. Kenneth Hayward of Thermal, Riverside County, were liberated on Mount Rubidoux, near Riverside, the last of September. The birds were obtained under permit from the Fish and Game Commission. The transplantation was made in the hope that these desert quail would increase and add interest to Mount Rubidoux. The birds will be carefully protected and fed regu- larly.— J. S. Logan.

UNUSUAL DUCKS VISIT INTERIOR.

Several species of winter visitant ducks, which formerly were seen commonly in northern California and which are now practically unknown or unrecognized by the younger generation of waterfowl shooters, have been observed this season. Ducks of several different species have been brought to the Sacramento oSice of the Fish and Game Commission for identification. Three are of particular in- tei-est : the lesser scaup, or "bluebill," which, twenty-five years ago, frequented the unreclaimed islands of the lower Sac- ramento ; the American goldeneye, and the beautiful bufl3ehead or "butterball." The goldeneye has even appeared in the markets in Sacramento this year. The wood duck, which nested in large numbers in the timber bordering the banks of many sloughs and rivers of central and north- ern California, also has been unusually common this winter.

The presence of these ducks augurs well for the future. The present federal and state laws may be responsible for the re- turn of these species. Certain it is that it has been many years since these ducks

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

39

have been seen in any numbers in this section.

Quite a number of wood clucks were seen on the opening day of the season and several were killed. Unfortunately, a duck is simply a duck to most shooters, who do not know or care what species of ducks and other waterfowl are protected at all times. Such shooters kill the bird only to learn later that it is unlawful to shoot the same. We have seen a per- fectly honorable law-abiding sportsman kill a swan, supposing it to be a goose, and kill wood ducks for teal or other ducks. There is nothing more interesting to the true sportsman than knowing the species, even to the sex thereof, before shooting. No two species fly alike. Every species of duck has its peculiar mode of locomotion. Some use a slow motion of wing, some very fast, as do the quail. The short-winged ducks, such as the teal, goldeneye and ruddy, are not only recog- nized by their rapid flight but by a peculiar motion all their own that can not be explained or described, but which can not be forgotten when once learned. The movements of birds should be observed clo.seIy by the hunter, so that he may tell at a glance what species he is about to kill. The wood duck (which is protected all the year) is one of the easiest of ducks to distinguish, both by flight and plumage. This duck, especially the female, appears

to have small spectacle rims on each side of the head, a mark very plainly discern- ible. Both have plumes on the crown, the male plume being larger than that of the female. The female, when flying, in- variably has a peculiar cry as though it were in pain.

More study of the bird and less thought of how many birds one can kill will prove interesting, and, furthermore, will mean the saving of some of the species from ex- tinction. If hunters persist in shooting everything, irrespective of kind, arrest and severe punishment will be used to compel them to have more care. — George Neale.

THE MOUNTAIN LION AN ENEMY OF THE SKUNK.

The following evidence bears on the food habits of the mountain lion. Evi- dently lions do not confine their attention wholly to deer.

On November 8, 1916, our shepherd dog treed a young California lion a short dis- tance below our ranch, near Coulterville, Mariposa County, California. My father, on approaching the lion, which had taken refuge in a live oak tree, noted an odor of skunk. After the lion had been killed the stomach was found to contain a half- chew^ed skunk, a striped one, judging from the black and white hair found. The lion was only a small one, weighing in the neighborhood of thirty-five pounds. — Donald D. McLean.

UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE COOPERATION.

L. H. Whiteman, Editor.

QUAIL BECOMING SCARCER IN THE STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST.

Mountain and valley quail are getting scarce, valley quail being found in large numbers only in the southern portion of the Stanislaus National Forest. This is probably due to the increased number of hunters who go into the forest each year, and to the use of modern firearms. Also it is a well known fact that hawks get away with a large number of birds, espe- cially in the high country. It is believed here that the mountain quail law should open with that for valley quail, since in some districts the young birds are hardly able to fly on September 1, when the present season opens. — E. D. Bach.

DEER IN THE EL DORADO NATIONAL FOREST.

Forest officers reported 128 deer killed during the 1915 open season within the El Dorado National Forest, and five without the forest, or a total of 133 re- ported by forest officers who are deputy fish and game commissioners. This num- ber does not equal the number killed during the open season of 1914, which is a strong argument that deer are decreas- ing in number, and there were many more hunters in the mountains this season than during 1914. A rapid increase in the number of hunters may be expected in the future for the reason that the auto- mobile furnishes rapid transportation to

40

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

Mud from the vallej- towns. It is rec- omnieuded, therefore, that deer be further protected by allowing only one buck per man per season, and if in one or two years a slight increase in the number of deer is not seen, a closed season for at least three years should be enacted. — E. L. Scott.

EFFECT OF FOREST FIRES ON FISH.

In the summer of 1915 a very severe brush lire burned off all the brush cover along the headwaters of Tepusquet Creek in the Santa Barbara National Forest. Tepusquet Creek had good fishing in it before the rains came, but the rains that winter poured tons of dirt and ashes off the burned mountain sides into the creek, gullying the slopes badly. The fish holes were all filled up. The dirt and ashes evidently killed every one of the fish. Now the stream has not a fish in it, or any holes for them to live in during the summer if there were any alive. — J. R. Hall.

FOREST OFFICERS DESTROY PRED- ATORY ANIMALS.

More proof of the value of forest offi- cers as protectors of game is found in a recent report from the Sequoia National Forest which states that two bears, thirty coyotes and five wildcats have been killed during the past year by forest officers.

THE SPIKED BUCK LAW.

The spiked buck law comes in for a good deal of comment from rangers of

the Santa Barbara National Forest, as follows :

The spiked buck law is a good one : First, because the bucks are getting very scarce ; second, because it causes the hunter to look closer at the deer before shooting, therefore preventing the killing of many does for lack of close observa- tion.— Ranger S. H. Douglas.

The spiked buck law is a good thing in the right direction, and I believe has been universally observed ; in fact, there have been very few reports of violations and in every case except one I have rea- son to doubt the truth of the reports, and I have investigated every report reaching me. The reported violations proved to be some one's suspicions. The presence of plenty of does and fawns and spiked bucks throughout the district is evidence of the integrity of the great majority of the hunters who have been in the field.

I have found a growing sentiment dur- ing the last several years in favor of a closed season of from three to five years in length and then a reduction of the buck limit — one buck and the season shortened anywhere down to one day. The senti- ment in favor of a closed season has crys- tallized until I have heard almost every hunter that I have met this season make some such expression. — Rangeb H. H. Hunt.

My idea of the spiked buck law is that it is all O. K. ; saves more does than any law ever passed. The opening and closing of the season could not be better. The trout season is all right just as it is and the quail season also. — Ranger S. J. Rhyne.

BOY SCOUT COOPERATION.

NEW YORK SCOUTS TOLD HOW TO CONSERVE WILD LIFE.

[The following is the advice given the boy scouts of New York State by John B. Burnham, president of the American Game Protective Association. Scouts of California ! Can't you make use of some of these ideas? "What birds mentioned by Mr. Burnham are not found in Cali- fornia? Honorable mention will be given the California scout who sends in a cor- rect list. — Editor.]

CONSERVATION AND WILD LIFE.

Conservation is preservation. It is founded on frugality and unselfishness. As applied to game and forests it does not

mean that game shall not be killed nor trees cut down when needed for use, but it does mean that there shall be no wanton destruction and no unnecessary waste.

Only useful things must be taken as re- quired, and then only when not in conflict with the right of others. Beautiful objects in nature must be spared and protected. Birch trees must not be marred by peeling the bark. Shrubs and trees must not be hacked and defaced. Names or signs must not be chiseled on rocks. Above all, beau- tiful and useful birds and mammals, not classed as game, must be protected with

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

41

the same spirit with which we protect our own good names.

Our natural resources are given us "in trust, for the benefit both of the present and the future. We must render an ac- counting of the trust to those who come after us!"

CERTAIN CARDINAL PRINCIPLES.

1. Way back in Deuteronomy we are told not to molest a bird on the nest. This is the earliest game law and the most fundamental. All creatures must be pro- tected during the period of rearing their young. Otherwise extermination will re- sult.

2. Do not let anybody rob bird nests. Protect the immature things from preda- tory creatures. If you have a cat which kills birds, put a bell on its neck and do not let it roam the fields, particularly in the nesting season.

3. Do not be a game or fish hog, and do not let others take more than a reasonable or legal limit. Sometimes the legal limits are too large, and sometimes there are no legal limits imposed. Here your moral powers should be exercised to prevent excess. Supplant the fallacy that nothing succeeds like success with the finer prin- ciple of sport for sport's sake. Taking game and fish with gun and rod in modera- tion is manly sport, but it is still finer to study the wild things and to secure as trophies photographs which are tokens of greater skill in woodcraft.

4. It is now illegal to sell almost every kind of game in almost every state in the Union. New York prohibits the sale of all game except rabbits and certain propa- gated and imported species. The market hunter is thus eliminated, but in some places game is still illegally sold by resort to subterfuge.

I 5. You can do much to preserve the game and birds by providing cover for them and food. Plant barren tracts with trees which can be procured from the Conservation Commission for three or four dollars a thousand. Plant also bar- berries and haws and other food-bearing shrubs which can be procured at small :ost from commercial nurseries, or plant Jven cherry stones and apple seeds and ivillow suckers. You will have the satis- action of seeing something grow where

nothing grew before, and the knowledge that you have done something of value to posterity.

G. Many birds and animals die in cold weather from temporary causes. Often they need only a trifle of food to supply their needs till the snow settles, or the ice melts from seed-bearing weeds and shrubs. Here much good can be done by distribut- ing suitable grains or other food in the swamps or other places in which wild life resorts. Read "Wild Bird Guests" and other books which give information on this subject.

7. Know the game laws. Remember that all wild birds in the state are pro- tected at all times, together with their eggs and nests, except English sparrows, starlings, crows, hawks, crow blackbirds, snow-owls, great-horned owls and king- fishers, and the game birds.

The birds classed as game are limited in number in this state and it is an easy matter to learn the list. They are the waterfowl, including geese, brant and river and sea ducks ; the marsh birds, including rails, coots, mudhens, and gallinules ; the upland game birds, including grouse or partridge, pheasants and quail ; and the shore birds, such as woodcock, snipe and plover. Knowing the birds which may ,.e killed, it is easy to be sure of those which may not be killed and, thus informed, to prevent others from taking the lives of those cheery and useful friends of human- ity. To know when game birds are being killed illegally, however, it will be neces- sary to study the state closed seasons.

A SAMPLE OF THE WORK OF ONE SCOUT.

[Here is a sample of the Interest taken by one Scout. Scout Marriott is out after that prize and the rest of you will have to hurry. — Editor. ]

Santa Maria, California, October 26, 1916.

State Fish and Game Commission of Cali- fornia.

Dear Sirs : In regard to your game magazine, of which we received a copy, I notice it speaks chiefly about deer and I will tell you a few more things we find to be true.

One reason why our deer are lessening in number is because some of our citizens

42

CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME.

kill deer before the season opens, kill does and fawns whenever no one is around that they know of and many kill more than two a season. This can easily be done, we find, by the hunter killing one, then after that is gone and if he has not been noticed by some ranger or game warden, he will throw the horns and skin away and go after his two deer which he says he has a right to kill. This is often used, I fear, and something should be done to stop it.

Another solid reason why our deer are few in numbers is because of the puma or mountain lion, which preys upon the deer. These beasts, I and many others find, kill on an average of ten per year, and a bounty of about $100 ought to be paid for the skin of a lion. There is only one good thing that the puma is good for and that is his fur ; therefore, it would do no harm if they were entirely extermi- nated.

Yours truly,

(Signed) Paul Mabbiott.

Santa Maeia, Califobnia, September 4, 1916.

State Fish and Game Commission,

Los Angeles, California. To whom it may concern:

On your game laws (1915-1917), I find you have the dove season opening on Sep- tember first.

This opening season date for doves I find does not give the parent birds time enough to hatch their young.

A week ago I was on a little hike by myself. I discovered three dove nests, one with eggs and the other two with baby doves about a week old in them. As this is a fine dove country there must be many more nests with the same aged occupants.

Yours truly,

Paui. Mabbiott. Tenderfoot Scout, Troop 1.

Santa Mabia, Califobnia, October — , 1916.

State Fish and Game Commission

of California. To whom it may concern:

In regard to the English sparrow or European house bird I find that in this district the bird nests from four to seven times a year and usually has from four to six eggs.

Its nest is very poorly constructed, and as it builds in some corner, nook or orna- mental fixtures, it not only spoils the ap- pearance of the building but has often caused fires.

In the fruit counties this bird nips the buds in spring, kills young birds of the song variety and fills air with its non- musical chirp. There seems to be only one bird that can hold its own with the English sparrow and that is the blackbird.

We have great difficulty in planting lawns here because as soon as the seeds are sown the pests arrive and they soon leave patches of bare ground.

I have built a nest box in my yard and the best way I find to exterminate them is to let them nest, then one by one break up the eggs. In this way the birds soon leave the nest and the box is soon filled by another couple which by the same way may be gotten rid of. Instead of taking them all at one time the parent birds can be caught and killed and the eggs also destroyed.

I have killed fourteen English sparrows since the troop received your letter.

If there is some better way of getting rid of them or anything else I can do for the Fish and Game Commission please let me know as I would like very much to have the honor of getting a pair of pheasants.

Yours truly,

PAtTL Mabbiott. Tenderfoot Scout, Troop 1.

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CALIFORNIA FISPI AND GAME.

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CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

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CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

47

VIOLATIONS OF THE FISH AND GAME LAWS. September 1, 1916, to November 30, 1916.

Offense

Game. Hunting without licenses

Deer, close season— killing or possession; excess bag limit

one season

Female deer, spiked bucks, killing or possession; not retain- ing horns of deer; illegal deer hides

Nongame birds, killing or possession

Ducks, close season— killing or possession; excess bag limit- Shooting ducks from power boat in motion

Using a live or imitation animal blind

Night shooting

Geese, excess bag limit

Grouse, close season — killing or possession

Shore birds, close season— killing or possession; offering for lie

saJ

Quail, close season — killing or possession; excess bag limit, trapping without permit, shipping in concealed package... Cottontails, close season — killing or possession

Number of arrests

Total game violations.

Fish.

Angling without a license

Fishing for profit without a license

Striped bass — underweight

Dried California shrimp in possession

Illegal fishing apparatus

Spot-fin croakers, buying and selling

Trout, excess limit, undersizpd ofl'ered for sale.

Catfish, undersized offered for sale

Toung of fish, taking or possession

Crabs, close season — taking or possession

Clams, undersize

Abalones, undersize

Lobsters, undersize and oversize

Taking fish within 50 feet of fishway

Total fish violations.

Grand total fish and game violations.

39 17

Fines imposed

$555 00 365 00

13	550 00
17	185 00
23	1,125 00
9	75 00
5	125 00
12	215 00
1
1	40 00
15	215 00
5	175 OO
2	50 OO
159	$3,675 00
7	$125 00
18	175 00
5	145 00
1 9
20 00
2	40 00
8	25 00
1	12 00
3	20 00
4	25 00
1	25 00
3	40 00
5	90 00
1
63	$742 00

$4,417 OO

SEIZURES— FISH, GAME AND ILLEGALLY USED FISHING APPARATUS.

September 1, 1916, to November 30, 1916.

Game.

Deer meat 333i pounds

Hides 9

Ducks 4,278

Geese 1,158

Quail 173

Doves 8

Shore birds 6

Nongame birds 5

Rabbits 26

„ , Fish.

Striped bass 525* pounds

Trout 48| pounds

Dried California shrimp 4,160 pounds

Spot-fin croakers 1,435 pounds

Crabs . 6.'^2

Clams 100

Lobsters 55

Abalones I. ..I. .11.." 33

Miscellaneous fish 8J pounds

Illegal nets 10

T,, , „ . Searches.

Illegal fish and game Ill

48

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES FOR THE MONTHS OF JULY, AUGUST

AND SEPTEMBER, 1916.

General administration

July

August

September

General Administration —

General administration

Research, publicity and education

Printing

Fish exhibits

Game exhibits

Game farm

Mountain lion bounties

Lithographing hunting licenses

Lithographing anglers' licenses

Hunting license commissions and refunds

Angler's license commissions and refunds

Market fishing license commissions and refds.

Patrol- San Francisco District

Sacramento District

Los Angeles District

Launch patrol

Prosecutions — fish and game.

Crawfish inspection

Winter game feeding

Accident and death claims

$1,884 44 194 70 178 01 219 10

279 36 180 00

$2,111 26 376 71 731 73 235 00

12 90 385 31 320 00

21 00

$2,398 78 219 59 379 47 679 21 165 11 199 02 280 00

1,101 80

1,631 70

33 50

522 00

348 20

59 00

7 50

2,451 00

1,028 90

23 50

Department of Fish-culture —

Hatchery administration

Mount Shasta Hatchery

Mount Shasta Auxiliary Stations

Mount Whitney Hatchery

Mount Whitney Auxiliary Stations...

Tahoe Hatcheries

Tahoe Hatcheries Auxiliary Stations.

Marlett-Carson Hatchery

Fort Reward Hatchery

Ukiah Hatchery

Snow Moimtain Station

Brookdale Hatchery

Scotts Creek Station

Almanor Station

Bear Yallev Hatcherv

Tuba City Shad Station

Fish distribution

Fish transplanting

Screen, fishway, water pollution

$5,702 61 $0,123 11

$5,558 33

4,611 98

1,867 80

817 35

129 47

100 00

$5,739 59

4,098 96

1,870 40

824 67

93 80

100 00

$7,832 08

$5,718 82

3,652 76

2,113 86

980 01

71 70

100 00

7 00

$13,084 93

$919 27 2,407 03

$12,734 42 i $12,637 15

$799 50 2,375 70

1,110 11 ; 186 85 ! 374 74

283 67 503 27 396 19

$785 76

3,253 72

29 05

224 01

643 50

256 16

31 40 490 96 175 43

52 73 520 33

9 20

474 52

249 21

31 00

149 74

177 75

Commercial Fisheries, Research and Patrol- Fishery research and patrol

2,916 90 182 19 654 88

26 69

25 39

31 00

167 77

250 00

986 35

1,410 38

397 10

610 82

99 40

30 00

805 24

69 87

00 54

5

1,431

2-29 50

536 75

$10,057 46 $509 63

$8,836 89 $433 75

«,883 22 $378 92

Grand totals $29,354 63 $27,128 17 $29,73137

CONTENTS.

Page.

IN MEMORIAM _— 50

AN UNFAIR ATTITUDE ON GAME LAWS Frank B. Hoffman 51

STRIPED BASS FISHING C. M. Boutan 53

THE EFFECT OF POWER DEVELOPMENT ON FISHING IN THE

HIGH SIERRAS A. D. Ferguson 55

MY FIRST TRIP INTO BIG BEAR VALLEY W. C. Malone 60

WHAT WE CAN DO TO PROMOTE FISH CONSERVATION

Chas. M. Blackford 61

TRINITY NATIONAL FOREST GAME REFUGE E. V. Jotter 65

THE CASE OF THE SPORTSMAN vs. THE CASE OF THE FARMER 68

EDITORIALS 70

HATCHERY NOTES 83

CONSERVATION IN OTHER STATES 87

LIFE HISTORY NOTES 88

UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE COOPERATION 90

REPORTS 92

Fishery Products, October to December, 1916 92

Violations of Fish and Game Laws 94

Seizures 94

Financial Report 95

29093

IN MEMORIAM.

JOHN PETER FISHER.

John Peter Fisher, game expert of the California Fish and Game Commission, with headquarters in San Francisco, dropped dead while hunting in the marshes

near Los Bancs, on Sunday, November 26, ~ 19i6. Apparently there was no presenti- ment of death, as he left home in his usual health and was as cheerful and jocular as ever.

Mr. Fisher was a native of San Fran- cisco, being of a pioneer family. His father came to California in 1848, and set- tled in El Dorado County in the early six- ties. Mr. John P. Fisher married Miss Summerfield of El Dorado County, and two children were born to them: a daugh- ter, who died when quite young, and a son, whose tragic death by accidental shooting occurred when the young man was but eighteen years of age.

John P. Fisher was a lover of nature. He knew the woods, the birds, and the animal life of northern California as thor- oughly as few men have come to know them. He was an exceptionally well- informed man. Always reading, observ- ing and studying, he was able to thor- oughly discuss a wide range of subjects. He held many positions of trust, where an expert knowledge of men and conditions was essential. For many years he was connected with the tim- ber interests of El Dorado and adjoining counties, and the people of El Dorado County twice elected him to the position of county clerk. He was promi- nent as a national guardsman, and as such was recognized as one of the best shots in the United States, his possessions including many medals and trophies won in open competition.

He was known and loved for his genial disposition. Few men could number the sincere friendships accorded to him. No matter how he may have felt; no matter his secret troubles or sorrow, it was always a smile and a cheerful word from John P. Fisher. — W. A. Gett.

PAUL SMITH.

The following fitting words were spoken at the funeral of Paul Smith, one of the commission's trusted deputies, by Assistant Executive Officer J. S. Hunter:

"It has been my privilege to be associated for several years with the man whom we today have come to pay our last tribute of love and respect. I want to emphasize that it has been a privilege, for it is seldom that in all the multitude of people we come in contact with each day, that we find one in whom we can entrust every confidence as we could in him.

"In my association with him it was a pleasure to study the true nobleness of character, sincere integrity and high regard for duty that permeated his entire being. No duty was too severe, no task too hard; never complaining, always giving the best that was in him, his life was such that we can take from it a lesson that will make us all better men.

"To the wife and baby girl I would leave this word: Do not think of him as dead, but as one who has left all trials and troubles behind and who now rests where there are no sorrows, no partings, but, in their place, eternal peace. His memory is with you. Take consolation from the fact that his life was upright, his character sterling, his every act above reproach. He lives in your memory and in the memory of his friends and those who loved him."

California Fish and Game

"CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE THROUGH EDUCATION"

Volume 3 SAN FRANCISCO, APRIL, 1917 Number 2

AN UNFAIR ATTITUDE ON GAME LAWS.

By Frank B. Hoffman.

I recently attended a trial held before a justice of the peace in one of our mountain districts, the defendants, three in number, being charged with a violation of the game law. As to the result of the trial in as far as it affected the defendants, I have nothing to say, but I was forcibly impressed and immeasurably shocked at the utter lack of respect shown by some of those present for the officers of the court, and the openly expressed sentiment against the arresting officials. The idea seemed to prevail, as it does in other small communities, that because of the nature of the case the proceedings were to be something on the order of a vaudeville performance, and at least 50 per cent of those in attendance showed by their attitude that they were there to contribute their share toward the entertainment. I will not dwell upon this case, except to remark that instances of this kind have a demoral- izing influence upon the community in which they occur, for contempt for, and disregard of one law and its representatives, soon leads to contempt for another law and the officers appointed to enforce it.

I do not attempt a defense of the game warden, for neither he nor his position need defending, but I wish to register a vigorous protest against the unfair attitude assumed by a certain element of society toward these capable representatives of one of the greatest movements ever inaugurated for the benefit of the present and future generations. The populace turns out en masse to assist other officers in the capture of wrongdoers, and even the vile desecrator of the sacred hen roost is considered legitimate prey, all citizens, high and low, lending their best effort to aid in his apprehension. The officer who effects his capture is publicly lauded for his zeal and bravery, and where his office is elective, he is unanimously returned to office because of his record as an efficient officer. But because of some strange inconsistency in the human makeup, we place the game warden in a little niche hy himself and deny him the whole-hearted support that is the due of every officer, regardless of which branch of the law he represents.

The admirable and conscientious manner in which the majority of these men perform the duties assigned to them, speaks well of their physical and moral courage, for it is a lamentable fact that in some districts the sentiment against them is so hostile that they must possess these qualities to a high degree.

Even the hardened criminal recognizes the necessity of law and order, although he may look with disfavor upon the laws which affect his particular line of endeavor, and while he will resort to any measure to avoid capture, once he realizes that resistance is useless, he submits

52 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

to arrests and entertains nothing but the friendliest feeling toward his captor. But in most cases, violators of the game law make their arrest the basis of a bitter hatred for the man who brings them to task, con- sidering it in the light of a personal affair between themselves and the game warden, seeming to forget that he is but an instrument of society. A certain calibre of chronic offenders voice their hostile sentiments in very forceful language, endeavoring by threat and presentation of a warlike front to intimidate the resident game deputies. It is interesting to note the source from whence these threats emanate. In every case, the salient features of the physiognomy of the one who utters them proclaims the fact that his mental peregrinations do not extend beyond bounds usually referred to as ''narrow."

In some districts it is a difficult matter to secure a jury who wiU deal fairly with the people in these ''game trials," and men of high standing, who consider themselves law-abiding and upright members of their community, will resort to every subterfuge to avoid jury service in these instances. Sometimes they are moved to this as an act of business or social diplomacy or because of the fear of incurring the ill will of others. Others, who can and will qualify as jurors in the trial of any other case, seem, upon these occasions, unable to adjust their mental processes in a manner which will enable them to lay aside their per- sonal feelings and opinions.

Citizenship carries with it certain responsibilities, which, in all fairness to ourselves and our fellow man, we must not shirk. I consider jury service one of the most solemn and high duties we are called upon to perform, and while it is, at best, a disagreeable duty, we can not deliberately avoid it without feeling that we are shirkers. It is dis- couraging to the game wardens, when, after the conscientious perform- ance of their duty, they are denied support from the quarter from which they naturally expect it. I refer particularly to the lack of cooperation in some districts upon the part of the district attorney and other county officials. However, if I am correctly informed, it is pos- sible to proceed with the prosecution of a case without the assistance of these officers, and I believe it would be an excellent thing could these trials be held before any justice of the peace in the county, when, owing to the strong sentiment against game protection, it is impossible to secure a fair-minded jury in the locality where the offense is committed.

Our game is one of our most valuable assets. It is the means of bringing to our state thousands of dollars annually which otherwise would go to states more favored in the line of game, and laying aside all other considerations, from this standpoint alone it is to the interest of every man and woman within the boundaries of our state to lend their hearty support to any movement that has for its objective the presers^ation of our game. Society has appointed representatives to enact its laws, and as long as these enactments remain upon the statute books they must be observed and upheld by all. and the ones who are delegated to enforce them, instead of being anathematized and con- demned, should receive the moral and active backing of every citizen.

Every true sportsman should cultivate the acquaintance of the local representative of the Fish and Game Commission in the district where he usually hunts or spends his vacation. He will find the deputy a good man to know. As a general rule he is a veritable encyclopedia of

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 53

information pertaining to things that are of interest to all lovers of the great out-of-doors. He can tell one where the best hunting and fishing is to be had ; point out the best camp ground, and be useful in innumerable small ways that I am sure will be highly appreciated.

I hope to see the day in the not distant future when the true status of our game wardens will be firmly established in the public mind, and the warden will be accorded the respect to which the dignity of his office entitles him.

Meet him on the open ground of good fellowship ; extend to him the hand of welcome when he favors your camp "with a visit, and as he is usually the possessor of a pleasing personality, he will, if afforded an opportunity, win your good will and friendship.

STRIPED BASS FISHING.

By C. M. BouTAN.

My first experience angling for striped bass was sixteen years ago. After several fishing trips to San Leandro Bay, where I caught nothing but sting-rays, I succeeded in hooking a two-pound bass in San Pablo marsh near where the city of Richmond now stands.

The clam was the only bait used at that time. The preparation of a clam for a bait consisted in taking it out of the shell and splitting the neck lengthwise, the idea being to make a pocket of the neck, for the clam belly is soft and comes off the hook easily when cast. The hook was run through the little hard teat on the belly, then through the belly and twice through the neck lengthwise.

Our fishing was confined to the sloughs and good catches on some occasions were made.

In July, 1901, Al. Wilson perfected a bass spoon which he brought to San Pablo to try, and it was my good fortune to be there fishing at the time and to see the results. IMr. Wilson informed me that the spoons would be on the market shortly, and upon securing one I made a hasty trip to try it out. Large numbers of bass were occasionally caught with this spoon, both in the sloughs and on flats outside in San Pablo Bay. But the striped bass is a queer fish and on some days it would not strike the spoon. The fish were small, ranging from one to four pounds, but occasionally a larger one was landed.

A couple of years later some men tried trolling for bass in Raccoon Straits and secured a nice catch, so several of us went over to try our luck. Fishing was so good that we formed a club known as the "Pacific Striped Bass Club" and purchased an ark, which we still maintain at Belvedere. There were two distinct runs of bass in that neighborhood, one in March and April, the other in September and October. Seldom was a fish caught under five pounds and from that up to fourteen pounds, with a few as large as twenty pounds. Two men generally fished together, using the ''armstrong" motor. Rod holders were clamped to the sides of the boat to hold the rods. It was ideal fishing, with plenty of excitement, especially when two fish were hooked at the same time, which often happened. The fishing Avas mostly done close to the rocks.

54 CALIFOEXIA FISH AXD GAME.

A good many bass were being taken in San Antonio Slough in Marin County at this time on bait, but I made only a few trips up there, with poor results, although I have seen men returning from San Antonio with all the bass they could carry.

Five years ago it was found that the small crabs of the species Cancer magister were fine bait. The water in Carquinez Straits and Petaluma Slough and at Benieia and South Vallejo was alive with them. "Where they were present, a clam used as bait would not last a half minute. A man who had used crabs for bait in the East showed us how to pre- pare them. Break off all the legs, cut the edge of the shell all around and lift off the back, then break off the two lower parts of the shell and you have one of the best striped bass baits. A large hook, seven or eight 0, is used and the bait is put on whole. "WTien bass are taking crabs well they seemingly taste the bait first, then grab it and run.

A 35-pound striped bass that it was my good fortune to catch in Petaluma Slough had in its stomach a crab about five inches across the back. At another time a 12-pound bass was found to have devoured thirteen small mud crabs, called ' ' fiddlers. ' '

An arrest was made for having small Cancer magister crabs in pos- session, which put a stop to their use for bait. They are a real nuisance when fishing with other bait and the few that would be used would be nothing to the numbers that die each year when the freshets come down the sloughs adjoining Petaluma Slough.

A large crab of lawful size can be used, but it must be fresh and uncooked. A dozen good baits can be made of it.

The salt water bullhead is the predominating bait at the present time. The head and tail are cut off and the hook, a number four or five 0, is put into the throat from the inside.

Some men strike with the line when the fish grabs the bait, while others have the clicks on the reel fixed very light so it runs easily and the fish is allowed to run with the bait from 20 to 100 feet or until it is thought he has swallowed the bait. The fish is then hooked in the stomach or throat. A fish so hooked does not put up as good a struggle, in most cases, as one hooked in the mouth.

Monterey sardines are used a good deal for bait, also herring. They are cut into chunks or split lengthwise. Fishing with herring one night in January. 1913, in Petaluma Slough, I landed 125 pounds of bass in three hours, the largest fish weighing thirty-six pounds.

During the sununer months the fishing in San Pablo Bay, Napa River, Petaluma Slough and their adjoining sloughs is mostly carried on by trolling with spoons, and during that time the fish are usually small, although an occasional large one is caught. It is in winter the bass run large and thej' are then caught on bait.

The largest bass caught with rod and reel was caught by William "West of Napa, in the Napa marshes, on a spoon September 26, 1911. Its length was 51 inches, girth 31 inches, weight 62^ pounds.

Seemingly, there are millions of striped bass in San Francisco. San Pablo and Suisun bays and the rivers and sloughs flowing into them, and with the protection that the Fish and Game Commission is giving them there is no danger of their being depleted

CALIFOENIA FISH AND GAME, 55

THE EFFECT OF POWER DEVELOPMENT ON FISHING CONDITIONS IN THE HIGH SIERRAS.

By A. D. Ferguson, Field Agent, California Fish and Game Commission.

The construction of great dams across natural streams for the pur- pose of diverting or storing its waters, gives rise to difficult and trying problems in the way of providing for the free movement of ascending migratory fish over or around such artificial obstructions. To devise a fishway which will enable fish to surmount a dam a hundred or more feet high is no mean engineering feat. Such problems the Fish and Game Commission must solve. It can, and does, happen, frequently, that the construction of a great impounding dam works a very decided improvement in fishing conditions. The major streams of the high Sierra Nevada mountains of central California occupy deep can- yons and their tributary waters tumble more or less directly over canyon walls. The minor or tributary streams of the high Sierra region were, because of impassable falls in their lower courses, natu- rally devoid of fish life. Most of the feeder waters of the river systems of the vast Sierra watershed have been stocked with troat through the agency of man's enterprise, but while there are fish in the main streams and tributaries, the chief movement of fish life as between main streams and feeders is downward and not upward.

The impounding dams now in the Sierra Nevada mountains have been constructed either in connection with hydroelectric power devel- opment or as an aid to economical lumbering and are located on tributary streams high above the main rivers. In the first instance the site was chosen for the double purpose of securing a large area for the impounded flood waters and of securing a great perpendicular fall for the piped water in a short lateral distance. In the second instance, the lumberman makes his reservoir nearest his standing timber. And thus it comes about that some people seeing a high dam across a stream where fish are found above and below such dam wonder (and some- times complain) that the Fish and Game Commission has not compelled the eon.struction of a fishway to enable ascending migratory fish to pass over the obstruction. The unusual conditions existing in such cases minimize the necessity of aiding the fish to ascend the stream. Furthermore, the artificial lake above the dam has made room for thou- sands of fish where dozens could have existed before the construction

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Fig. 19. Transportation by means of pack-train in the high Sierras. By using this means of transportation it is possible to plant many streams otherwise inaccessible. Photograph by A. D. Ferguson.

56

CALIFOENIA FISH AND GAME.

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CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

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CALIFOENIA FISH AND GAME.

of the dam. Typical instances of how commercial enterprises have benefited a natural resource and given pleasure and profit to thousands of people, in a way their projectors never dreamed of, are to be found in eastern Madera and Fresno counties.

Before the San Joaquin Light and Power Company, taking advantage of a natural site, impounded the flood waters of the Crane Valley watershed, North Fork Creek in jNIadera County supported but a few trout and apparently had no future as a popular trout stream. The building of Crane Valley Dam made Bass Lake. This beautiful sheet of water, some six miles long, a half-mile wide and a hundred feet deep, is now teeming with both trout and black bass. A popular

¥^

Fig. 22. Bass Lake (Crane Valley Reservoir) in eastern Madera County. Power develop- ment was responsible for the formation of this fine body of water. Photograph by A. D. Ferguson.

summer resort is upon its banks and hundreds of campers annually visit its shores.

Stevenson Creek in Fresno County, stocked in 1888 with black- spotted trout, would never have furnished an incentive to visits by anglers, had it not been for the construction of the "Shaver" Dam by the Fresno Flume and Lumber Company. In an old-time biennial report of the (then) Fish Commission, it was stated that a careful survey showed that Stevenson Creek could never become a trout stream of consequence. Now, and for many years past. Shaver Lake, formed by the construction of a dam just above the point where Stevenson Creek starts tumbling 4,000 feet in four miles down into the San Joaquin River, is the mecea of thousands of people from the San Joaquin Valley, who, in summer, camp upon its shores and enjoy the good fishing to be had there.

The latest instance of how a high and impassable dam can sometimes prove of great benefit to the people's fishing interests is at Huntington Lake in Fresno County. Big Creek, stocked with rainbow trout in 1897, soon became a good fishing stream to the few people who in that day found its waters. In the then little known back country, its

CALIFOENIA FISIE AND GAME.

59

isolation was its protection. In the year 1911, came the Pacific Light and Power Corporation, with thousands of workmen, to invade the solitudes of Big Creek Basin. At the lower end of the basin, at the head of the gorge through which Big Creek falls some 2,000 feet in a trifle over a mile, the company built a huge concrete dam. At first but 120 feet high, the dam is now being raised to a height of 150 feet. It impounds 150,000 acre-feet of water, and to the stock of rainbow trout already in the creek, the Fish and Game Commission has added several hundred thousand Loch Leven, eastern brook and rainbow fry. A mountain railway and a county wagon road permit an annual influx of several thousand people from all over the state to the shores of beautiful Huntington Lake. A fine hotel and many lesser ones are already located there. The Forest Service and the county of Fresno will jointly build a scenic road along the north shore of the lake during

Fig. 23. Huntington Lake, Fresno County, elevation 7,000 feet.

Ferguson.

Photograph by A. D.

the coming summer, and the playgrounds commission of the city of Fresno has selected a site on the lake shore where it is planned to give annual outings to 5,000 children.

Here, as elsewhere, the fishing is the chief lure which draws so many people to the mountains, but there is little danger of the fish supply becoming depleted ; for not only will the lake support and harbor vast numbers of trout, but each spring, from out its depths, will emerge big, strong, spawning fish to ascend every tributary stream and the process of natural reproduction will go on to replenish the annual drain.

Other notable examples of the incidental (or accidental) benefits which may follow the building of high impounding dams across moun- tain streams, are the Highland reservoir in Calaveras County, the dam at Strawberry and the big dam at Relief, both of the latter being in Tuolumne County.

GO CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

MY FIRST TRIP INTO BIG BEAR VALLEY IN THE

SPRING OF 1916.

By W. C. MAI.ONE, Deputy Fish and Game Commissioner.

On the 18th day of April I received instructions from the Divisioi Office at Los Angeles to take two men and go to Big Bear Valley t( rescue the fish that were going from the lake into the mountain stream; to spawn, it being stated to me that large numbers of fish in passing ui the streams were becoming stranded and that they no doubt woulc perish unless some provision was made for getting them into deepei water.

Realizing that it was a job that would call for men who were usee to roughing it and who were not afraid of cold water or hard work two men bearing the names of Dotts and Welch were secured. W< got into the valley on the 20th of April, 1916, and found that the streanu running into the lake were alive with trout that weighed from two t( ten pounds.

The storms of the winter had filled the mouths of the streams runnin| into the lake with sand and debris, and the large fish, in attempting t( get up the streams, would get stranded in the shallow waters at th( mouths, and being unable to get either up or down the streams, becamt easy prey to both man and beast.

We worked for the first fifteen days rescuing these fish off the sand bars and placing them back in the lake. During this time we wer( assisted by Mr. Phillips and Mr. Morrison of the fish hatchery at Bi^ Bear Lake, and a Dr. Getchell, who was stopping in the valley at th( time. I believe that our work saved for the people of the state Oj California thousands of fish that would have otherwise died, beer destroyed by animals or clubbed and speared by violators.

Probably the experience at the lake this spring has been the commor experience around the lake, for I have been told by old-timers of Beai Valley that they used to haul fish out by the wagonload in the spring season, and anyone who knows anything about fish when they an spawTiing knows that they fall an easy prey to the man who wants t( pick them up, as they are at that time very tame and can be easilj handled, particularly while they are stranded in the shallow waters.

During the excessive floods of 1916 the lake filled up until the watei ran over the top of the dam several feet, carrying immense number; of large trout out of the lake and into Bear Creek. After the stom was over we estimated that there were between three and five thousanc fish in the creek which had been washed over the dam during tlii. storm, each weighing between two and ten pounds. Later, when the season opened, the anglers had great sport trying to catch the larg( trout in Bear Creek. They used their light tackle which they had beer in the habit of using for T3rook trout, but made very little progress ii catching these big lake trout in the stream, and as one fishermai expressed himself: "When you hooked a fish he would shake his head and if he didn't break a hook, line or leader, he would brace himsel: against a rock, give a lunge, and away he would go ! "

We had a very successful opening of the fishing season in Bear Lab this year. A great many fish were caught and some very nice ones

.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 61

The only thing to mar the success of the opening was the roughness

of the waters of the lake, which made it very dangerous for fishermen

to go on the lake in small open boats. I did all that I could do to keep

J I the fishermen from the more dangerous portions of the lake during that

\ i day, and persons who went on the lake in the open boats had to make

5 j shore the best way they could. A great many people do not realize

1 1 their danger in going on these mountain lakes in open boats in the early

ji I part of the season. As the weather is more or less rough and the

waters are extremely cold, after a person is once thrown in the water

he has very little chance of getting out alive, as the experience of four

, men who drowned in Little Bear Lake on the opening day of the fish

\. i season in 1916 proves.

WHAT WE CAN DO TO PROMOTE FISH CONSERVATION.*

By Charles Minor Blackford^ M. D.

Perhaps no country in the world possesses more societies and associations for the promotion of various ends than does the United

t: States, and yet the small success that attends the labors of these

1 organizations must attract the notice of anyone who looks into the matter. In every state, in many counties and in every city or large town, we find medical societies and other scientific or semiscientific bodies that are trying to teach the people at large how to better their

'' physical condition, and yet in many cases, their influence is negligible. It was only after the brilliant object lessons given by the altered hygienic conditions in Havana and on the Canal Zone, that the mass of our intelligent people became convinced that the mosquito is any- thing more than a trivial nuisance and that the housefly is a menace to life, although the medical societies had been preaching these facts to unheeding ears for several years. When the truth was brought home to the people, however, they grasped the situation, and the tables of

I mortality already show the results of the campaign now being waged

I against these domestic enemies.

The reason why these bodies of learned and experienced men have so small an influence on the people around them may be summed up

i in the single word, ignorance. This popular ignorance and its twin offspring, prejudice and vanity, must be overcome before any marked results can l)e effected. Mere legislation will not accomplish much. Along our special line, the conservation of fishes, there is ample legis- lation— indeed in some instances there is too much — but the legislation is not accomplishing its end and we should try to find out why it is not doing so. Many of the law^s on the statute books are not wise and would not accomplish anything if they were enforced, but the principal reason is lack of enforcement, and it is here that ignorance and its offspring, prejudice, come into play. One of the wisest of the writers on law has said that "He who knoweth the law and knoweth not the reason of the law, knoweth not the law; for the reason of the

*An address delivered before the American Fisheries Society, 1915. Reprinted from the Transactions American Fisheries Society> December, 1915, pp. 13-18.

62 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

law is the life of the law," and we must teach the mass of the laity the reason of the law if we wish to put life into the law and get hearty- cooperation in its enforcement.

The greatest obstacle that we encounter in doing this is the vanity of the American people. For more than a century it has been a mark of so-called patriotism to claim that the resources of our country are inexhaustible, and anyone who called attention to the danger of extrav- agant wastefulness, was considered an hysterical alarmist or almost a traitor. In consequence of this foolish talk, we are now seeing the end of our forests, and geologists are estimating, with alarming accuracy, the length of time that will elapse before our stores of iron and coal will be exhausted. National and state governments are frantically taking steps to check the ruthless destruction of these reserves of natural wealth before it is too late, but their efforts will bear scanty fruit unless the people be shown that the wonderful wealth of our country is not limitless. When this is grasped, and not until then, conservation will become an accomplished fact.

When America was first being settled by Europeans, the abundance and variety of the fisheries of both the salt and fresh waters made a deep impression on the colonists. The Grand Banks fisheries played no small part in causing the adjacent continental shores to be colonized, and the fishes along the coasts and in the rivers supplied the colonists with a large part of their food during the earlier years of the settle- ments. The widespread belief that this resource was inexhaustible led to such reckless destruction that the fisheries began to decline, and about the time of the Civil War the shad catch had diminished to such an extent that its restoration was one of the main reasons for the establishment of the United States Commission of Fi.sh and Fisheries, the predecessor of the present Bureau of Fisheries. Following the example of the national government, many of the states have estab- lished commissions charged with the duty of restoring or increasing their respective fisheries, and it is a part of the duty of our society to aid these commissions in the accomplishment of their task.

This can best be done by arousing the interest of the people in the work, and as said above, this can only be done by spreading abroad knowledge of the economic value of the fisheries and showing that in preserving them, something more is intended than merely restricting the rights of the fishermen. Our society can do good work in this direction, both as individuals and as an organization, and I want to make a few suggestions as to how we may go about it.

At the meeting of the Fourth International Fi.shery Congress, held in Washington in 1908, 0. M. Dennis, former state game warden of Marjdand, gave some reasons for the failure of fish protective legis- lation, and among them he placed the selfish jealousy of sportsmen an«.i commei-cial fishermen in regard to bills introduced b.y either class. He said that this being true. "The country members of the legislature, as well as the fishermen themselves, look with suspicion on any measure presented to the legislature wliich has for its purpose the protection of fish and game Avhen such measure is presented by city men." Unfortunately this is true, and it is not confined to Maryland by any moans. The antagonism between country men and city men is so

CALIFOENIA FISH AND GAME. 63

widespread as to be almost universal, and among the rural population there is a general opinion that game protective laws are designed to furnish sport for city men at the expense of the rights of the country people. For this reason the game laws are very commonly looked on as something very much like acts of tyranny, and disobedience of them is regarded somewhat in the light of heroism. It should be remembered that laws are but the crystallized expression of public opinion, and if there be no public opinion favoring a law, or if public opinion be opposed to a law, merely placing a legislative act on the statute book will not produce any result. It is therefore necessary to create an enlightened public opinion in favor of laws for the conservation of fishes, and when this is done the enforcement of the laws will be both easy and effective.

Our society can aid in the development of this public opinion both as a collection of well informed individuals interested in this movement and as an organization. Our members come from many of the states of the Union, and among them are state and national officials, college professors, commercial fishermen, scientists and sportsmen ; in brief, every aspect of the fishery question is represented among us. We are not sectional and we have no selfish nor class interests to serve, and consequently we are in better position to spread the knowledge of fish life among the people than would be any trade organization or even a purely scientific society. As individuals it would be well for us to write papers for the press ; not merely for the big city papers, the sporting magazines and the fish trade journals, but for the country weeklies that go out among the masses of the rural population. If we were to write articles that are scientifically accurate; that are interestingly put. and above all, are not "in a tongue not understanded of the people," many of our members w^ould be surprised to see how eagerly they will be read and what an effect they will produce. One of the main reasons that societies such as ours have so little effect on public opinion is that the subjects that we discuss and the language in which we discuss them are uninteresting and unintelligible to most of the people outside of our own narrow circle. It is hard for us, who have given much of our time and effort to the acquirement of a special line of knowledge, to appreciate that what is merely elementary to us is an unknown and fascinating world to many intelligent men outside of the ranks of professional naturalists. How many of these people could tell how a fish eg^ is impregnated and how it develops? How many can tell anything of the life history of even the commonest fishes? The knowledge — if indeed it can be called knowledge— that most persons have of such subjects is a mass of traditional lore, resting on misinformation as a basis, that is so far from the truth that to call a tale a "fi.sh story" is equivalent to saying that it is false. By putting the known facts of fish life clearly and accurately before the intelligent people of our country, we would make hundreds of practical students of the natural history of fishes where none are today, and nearly every one of them would become an active aid in the conser- vation movement.

64 CALIFOENIA FISH AND GAME.

Another method of advancing our purpose is to have our members give talks before school children. IMany, if not all, of the school superintendents will welcome the chance of having some well-informed man or woman give one or more talks — we need not dignify them by calling them lectures — before the children on this subject, and by so doing the interest of the coming generation will be aroused. The recent Boy Scout movement offers another opportunity. Teach these boys how the black bass or the brook trout spawn; if possible show them some of the eggs during their development, and the boys will become ardent protectors of the spawning fish and not destroyers of them. They will see that the despised city sportsman is a pretty decent kind of fellow after all, and they will teach their parents and their neighbors the value of fish conservation.

Finally, what can we do as a society to arouse greater interest in our avowed objects? We can take a hint from one of our sister societies, the National Geographic Society. We should remember that there is nothing in which any intelligent man is interested that may not be made an object of interest to any other intelligent man if it be properly put. We are far too prone to discuss technical matters that are of great interest to us as biologists and fish culturists, and to forget that these topics, although of great value, are of no interest to the masses unless we try to make them such. At first glance it would seem that there are few subjects less interesting than the cold, bare facts of geography, but by putting these facts attractively, the National Geographic Society has built up one of the most entertaining magazines in the country, and has enrolled a membership of thousands. We might do something of the same sort. We might try to issue a maga- zine of popular ichthj^ology that w^ould cover the scientific, the com- mercial and the sporting sides of our subject, and by having the articles written simply, clearly and accurately, spread the influence of our society throughout the land. We would replace the ignorance and misinformation that now prevail by clear, concise and accurate knowledge, before which the obstinacies and prejudices that now oppose us would disappear. We would enlist thousands of eager students of all ages and sexes to battle for fish conservation, and we would make our society a power in the land. Many of our members are easy and graceful writers, and I feel certain that enough of them Avould be willing to contribute articles to such a journal that would make it authoritative and valuable as well as interesting and entertain- ing, and, should the experiment succeed, we would have the conscious- ness of having performed a valuable service to our country.

CALIFOENIA FISH AND GAME.

65

TRINITY NATIONAL FOREST GAME REFUGE.

By E. "V. Jotter, Chief Forest Deputy.

The Trinity National Forest Game Refuge (Fish and Game District No. 26) situated to the east and south of Big Bar, Trinity County, includes approximately 65,000 acres, of which 2,377 acres are alienated land.

The area extends from the head of a little gulch on the north, at an elevation of approximately 3.500 feet across the Trinity River (eleva- tion 1,300 feet) over Hayfork Bally Mountain (elevation 6,000 feet),

Fig. 24. Lookout on Hayfork Bally, higiiest point on the Trinity National Forest Game Refuge (District 26). From this section can be heard practically all gunshots within the refuge.

across Hayfork Creek (elevation 2,000 feet). This range in elevation and the south exposures afford both summer and winter range, so that game need not leave the refuge at any time. The area also includes a number of licks much frequented by deer.

An almost equal distribution of timber and brush types is to be found, the latter usually being found on the steep south or west expo- sures. The timber includes both fir and pine types, the latter having

3—29093

66 CALIFOENIA FISH AND GAME.

the most browse aud grass feed. BriLshfields are largely of manzanita, white thorn, and mountain mahogany, although such browse feed as oak and bine brush is also common.

At present 365 cattle and 14 horses are grazed here by 17 permittees. Very few campers use this region solely for the camping, but in the past it was a favorite hunting ground. After the completion of the down-the-river road, there will imdoubtedly be much travel through this refuge, and quite probably more camping along the road.

Deer are found throughout this area, quite generally distributed throughout the summer and fall, and living at the lower elevations during the winter and spring. It is also thought that some of the deer that winter here regularly travel out of this region during the summer and early fall. It is estimated that the average number of deer found here during the summer does not exceed 1,500 head.

Mountain lions move about a great deal, but there are very few within this area and possibly 40 to 50 bears and 150 coyotes make this region their home. Mountain and valley quail and grouse are scarce but squirrels are abundant.

As already stated, this region affords excellent summer and winter feed and because of this reason, as well as the favorable climate and low snowfall along the river, forms splendid breeding grounds. Water is abundant, salt licks are convenient, aud there is plenty of early feed.

This region has always been recognized as a good hunting ground and it was so extensively visited in the past that the number of deer was being seriously reduced up to several years ago. Since game laws are being observed more generally deer are increasing. Although no unusual number of game violations have occurred in this region there have been several violations for such reasons as killing doe, more than two a year, or hunting without a license. Local hunters can still use this region with very little risk of detection, but it is not so easy for outside hunters to go alone or in a party without being apprehended. The establishment of this refuge created a safe place for breeding deer to supply a great area of surrounding countr3\ There should be but little reason for any persons except stockmen to roam about within the refuge, and consequently there should be less danger of fire through carelessness by individuals.

The employment of a man to devote his entire time to this area would permit the close supervision necessary to keep out all but those having a legitimate reason to be in the area. Naturally there should be a good check on those who go into the refuge, so that only responsible parties who will be careful with fire, can enter.

At present the only supervision exercised is that done in a general way by Deputy Laws and whatever incidental patrol and supervision can be given him by forest officers. This refuge is fortunately located in that the district rangers at Hyampom, Hayfork and Big Bar are near the main trails of the refuge and the lookout on Hayfork Bally can hear any shots within a part of the area. However, these men exercLse only incidental supervision and only two of the number are on duty all year. It would seem advisable, therefore, for an expe- rienced man to be stationed on the refuge all year at a salary of

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

67

$100 per month (the man furnishing his own subsistence and horse feed).

The extermination of predatory animals should fall largely to the patrolman who could kill such animals as coyotes during the summer and trap or poison them during the winter. Probably $25 a year would cover the cost of traps, ammunition, poison, bait, etc., used in this

Fig. 25. Canon Creek Falls, Trinity County, typical of Trinity County

mountain scenery.

work. A patrolman can do more to increase the deer by destroying predatory animals, especially coyotes, than in any other activity, not excepting unlawful killing of deer.

Winter feeding is sometimes necessary and would cost from $25 to $50, as we can assume that under this protection the game would increase and require more feed during periods of stress. The proper

68

CALIFOENIA FISH AND GAME.

protection of the existent species of game and bird life will be all that is necessary to fully restock this area.

Sentiment of the local public is not favorable toward this idea of a game refuge, as it is believed by most of the people that there really is not need for closing any area to legitimate hunting. They believe that all that is necessary is to exterminate the predatory animals, to enforce the game laws in general and particularly to curtail the killing of more deer than is permitted by hunters who travel by auto from county to county, killing their full quota in each.

THE CASE OF THE SPORTSMAN vs. THE CASE OF

THE FARMER.

[The following contrasted opinions regarding the relation of the farmer to game are of peculiar interest. Both quo- tations are from Eastern men. Fortu- nately, California is practically free from this conflict of interests which complicates the cause of game conservation in Eastern states. Those who never carry a gun have here actively espoused the cause of game protection and are taking part in bringing about the proper kind of laws. And the sportsman is sacrificing his own immediate good for the perpetuation of the game supply. The farmer is as a rule cooperat- ing in preserving wild life, even to the extent of artificially feeding it. Only occasionally is one found who takes the same point of view as Mr. West. The cause of game conservation demands a harmonizing of all purely individual points of view and a wider outlook which shall encompass the benefit of all — not of any single class. The sportsman and the farmer must ultimately meet on common ground and work together for a common end — a policy of conservation which shall ensure the greatest good to the greatest number. — Editor. ]

Dr. Joseph Kalbfus, Executive Ofiicer of the Pennsylvania Fish and Game Com- mission (Bull. Xo. 2, Pennsylvania Fish and Game Comm.), defends sportsmen thus :

"The necessity for additional protection to our wild beneficial birds is beyond ques- tion, yet, strange to say, those from whom, because of their professions, we expect the most (churchmen) and those who derive the most from the life work of birds (farmers) have up to this time done com- paratively nothing for the birds.

"Fortunately for the birds, as well as for the state, there are. certain people taking an interest in this matter, and strange to

say, tliose who have up to this time done most for the birds are those who in the public mind are supposed to be bird destroyers, and known as sportsmen. In the face of this opinion, I assert without the fear of successful contradiction, that every law upon our books today giving protection to wild birds, either game or otherwise, was put there at the instance, or tlirough tlie influence of sportsmen. They are tlie men who Iiave said tlirough legislative enactment that certain birds known as song and insectivorous birds, because of the value of their life work, shall not be killed at any time, and that birds known as game birds shall be killed only during certain periods and in re- stricted numbers, and they are the only men who have insisted upon and assisted in the enforcement of the statutory pro- visions relative to these subjects. They are tlie men who today are supplying through the Resident Hunters' License Act tlie sinews of war througli whicli protec- tion is given not only to game birds and animals but also to song and insectivorous birds, and without the help of which the labor of tlie farmer would, in the majority of instances, be profitless. In addition to this, they (the sportsmen) are providing the fund through which the farmer is paid a bounty for killing a weasel or other vermin that may be found destroying his poultry. They are the men who today are providing the cash t6 pay for grain used in feeding game and other birds during severe winter, weather ; in many instances they are paying for the labor necessary to place this grain wliere the birds may get it. Some few farmers are feeding birds during the winter time, or are at least permitting the birds, such as quail, that happen to come into their barnyard, tc partake of the grain scattered for theii poultry, but the great majority of farmers are not feeding or caring for the birds ir any way. I have been collecting statistics regarding this matter for years, and know

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME.

69

whereof I speak. I have found but few farmers, who, unless they were also 'sportsmen,' when the deep snows of win- ter have come, will take a bag of grain on their backs and hunt up the starving- quail to feed them, but upon tlie contrary, many farmers, in action at least, say to the quail, 'I know you are hungi-y and I have the grain to feed you, but if I give you that grain, worth a dollar a bushel to me, you will in all probability go over onto my neighbor's property, and he will either kill you or get the benefit of your life work, so I guess I'll stay in by the fire at home aud keep my grain.' Along comes tlie sportsman, very likely traveling in a hired rig, who buys this very bushel of grain, feeds part of it to the birds the producer of the grain has refused or neg- lected to feed ; part of it he feeds to birds on the neighboring farm. He keeps the birds alive, for not one would have sur- vived the winter without his care ; yet when he comes in the fall with gun and dog to take a part of what he has saved, he finds a trespass notice on almost every tree and post. The farmer who has done nothing to save the birds, in great big letters, says 'KEEP OFF,' and I wonder who will care for these birds next year."

Alfred C. West, writing in Recreation for September, IDIS, defends the farmer's point of view thus :

"Tlie farmer is also interested in game protection. He sees the young pheasants in his meadows. When he is near he makes a little side trip to see how they are getting along. In the old brush lot he sees an occasional rabbit scurrying down the bushy patli. In the woods he watches the gray squirrels in play and their bick- erings and thinks what a shame it is to kill them. He hears the quail whistling and the partridge drumming or sees the young ducks swimming around the bend of the creek and it seems good to be alive. A little later the hunting season opens but the farmer's work is pressing so that he can not get out in the woods that day. He hears the steady cannonading in woods, meadow, swamp and brush lot. He

sees the automobiles rush past his place or stop in his yard, with or without a request tliat he care for them 'for a little while.' Perhaps a neighbor tele- phones in that his stock are out in the road where some party of 'sportsmen' has left a gate open or perhaps even cut his fence. It may be that a favorite cow comes to milking time, blind in one eye or bleeding all along the sides from the cliarge of shot of a man who may have been nervous or only drunk. A few days later he may get a few hours wlien he can go hunting, but everything is changed. The young pheasants are all killed. The squirrels can not be seen. Indeed, with all his exact knowledge of the habits of the game on his land he is indeed fortu- nate If he can get one or two shots. If he tries to protect himself under the tres- pass laws, lie finds that the courts will not uphold him. * * *

"All this brings us to a realization that the game is decreasing largely because the farmer feels that it is not to his in- terest to have it do otherwise. It has already been shown how tlie mere pres- ence of game is often the cause of a money loss to the farmer. * * *

"How may the game be increased? It will be evident to any one that the game of the country can not be protected if the farmers are not willing to give active assistance in enforcing the game laws and few farmers will give an.v active aid wliile they are made to feel that a reduction in the number of game animals on their lands is a distinct advantage. * * * if the farmers could have the benefit of a good trespass law and could be allowed to get profit in some way, if only by the sale of hunting permits, from the presence of game on their lands the disappearance of the game could be stopped. The present game laws seem to the farmers to have been made by and in the interest of men who want to get something for nothing and let the farmer pay for it, and until this condition is remedied laws may be piled on laws hut the game will keep on its present road to oblivi07i,."

70

CALIFOENIA FISH AND GAME.

CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME

A publication devoted to the conserva- tion of wild life and published quarterly by the California State Fish and Game Commission.

Sent free to citizens of the State of Cali- fornia. Offered in exchange for ornitho- logical, mammalogical and similar period- icals.

The articles published in California Fish AND Game are not copyrighted and may be reproduced in other periodicals, provided due credit is given the California Fish and Game Commission. Editors of newspapers and periodicals are invited to make use of pertinent material.

All material for publication should be sent to H. C. Bryant, Museum of Verte- brate Zoology, Berkeley, Cal.

April 15, 1917.

THE NEW COMMISSIONER.

On December 8, 1916, Mr. Edward L. Bosqui of San Francisco was appointed fish and game commissioner to succeed Carl Westerfeld, who was elected at that time to the office of executive officer of the commission. Mr. Bosqui is a son of Edward Bosqui, a pioneer printer and publisher of San Francisco. The pres- ent commissioner, like his father, is a lover of field sports and has found I'cci'e- ation in fishing and hunting since his boyhood days. This long experience with the fish and game of California makes of Mr. Bosqui a most valuable ally of the men who hunt and fish and of those interested in wild life conservation.

Acquainted