CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 181 



flow determined ; the transportation facilities were examined ; the needs of the sur- 

 rounding country were investigated. After a most exhaustive examination, the 

 present site on Oali Creeli was chosen, and the results have fully justified the choice 

 made. In view of the fact that nearly all the water in southern California was 

 appropriated for irrigation, power or domestic use, the st;;te was extremely foriunate 

 to obtain such valuable water rights free of cost. These alone are of much greater 

 value than the cost of the hatchery. 



The fish produced at the Mt. Whitney Hatchery show much greater and better 

 development than those propagated at any other in this state or anywhere in the 

 world. The facilities for stocking the waters of the southern Sierras and southern 

 California are better than those that could be obtained anywhere else in that section 

 of the state and the people who are informed, are all of the opinion that no oetter 

 site could have been chosen. 



a. It is not true, as stated in the resolution, that there were no waters nearby 

 needing to be stocked. On the contrary, there are numerous streams and lakes 

 both on the western and eastern side of the southern Sierras, some of which are 

 barren of fish life, in which trout ought to be planted. The headwaters of many of 

 the streams flowing into the southern San Joaquin Valley rise in the western slopes 

 of the Sierra Nevada, within easy range of the Mt. Whitney Hatchery. 



b. It is not true that it is impossible to obtain a sufficient supply of trout eggs 

 in the vicinity of the hatchery. On the contrary, an ample supply of trout eggs 

 can be obtained from Rae Lake and Bear Lake, besides a bountiful supply of golden 

 trout eggs from Cottonwood Lake, the only place in the world where these eggs can 

 be obtained. In any event, it is much cheaper and easier to transport eggs to JMt. 

 Whitney Hatchery to be hatched and distributed than it is to transport trout fry 

 from Mt. Sisson Hatchery to the streams and lakes stocked from the Mt. Whitney 

 Hatchery. 



c. It is not true that the hatchery product must be transported a great distance 

 or at a heavy expense. The lakes and streams of the southern Sierras and southern 

 California can be easily reached and cheaply stocked from the Mt. Whitney Hatchery. 



d. The hatchery product is loaded on ihe fish distribution cars at Owenyo, leaves 

 there about five o'clock in the evening, and passing through the Mojave Desert at 

 night, reaches Los Angeles and the southern portion of the San Joaquin Valley 

 eai'ly the following morning. 



7. The cost of maintenance and operation of the Mt. Whitney Hatchery is not 

 extravagantly expensive nor out of all proportion to the benefit derived by the 

 people of the state. From year to year the expense, instead of growing, will 

 diminish on account of better facilities and the probable decrease in the price of food 

 for fish. 



The ground on which the hatchery is located was not purchased by the state, 

 but was given to the state by the citizens of Inyo County. The commissioners 

 are not aware who are the owners of the property adjacent to the hatchery site. 

 At the time the hatchery was built, the land adjoining it immediately on the west 

 was a part of the National Forest, owned by the United States. 



The Fish and Game Commission of California has made a greater effort than any 

 other state in the union to obtain accurate first-hand information relative to the 

 present status and condition of the game and fish of the state. It has caused 

 extended scientific research to be made, both as to the life histories of our game 

 and our fishes. 



Under the direction of Dr. H. C. Bryant and J. S. Hunter, the following investi- 

 gations have been instituted : 



«. Researches are being carried on by H. C. Bryant, Ph.D., game expert of the 

 commission, and J. S. Hunter, in close co-operation with the University of California, 

 Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, facilities and advice of the trained scientists of the 

 university being available and used 



b. Dr. Bryant, joint author of "The Game Birds of California," a 600-page book, 

 published in 1918, detailing the life history, habits and past and present status of 

 each species of game bird found in the State, sums up present knowledge of each 

 species. 



c. Investigations of the food habits of birds : 



(1) Roadrunuer proved an efficient destroyer of insect pests rather than an enemy 

 of quail. Actual food consumed shown by stomach analysis. 



(2) Study of food of ducks in progress. Will furnish information as to their 

 relation to agriculture and will give evidence as to best food plants to attract wild 

 fowl to the State. Natural foods suitable for use by the game breeder will also be 

 apparent. 



d. Compilation of dependable facts regarding game and its status. File kept ; 

 information furnished by forest officers codified ; newspaper articles authenticated. 



(1) Special report on fur bearing mammals; past and present status. 



(2) Present status of beaver with map showing known distribution. 



(3) Present status of prong-horned antelope with map showing present distribu- 

 tion and census of existing herds. 



e. Statistics of annual kill of game. 



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