84 



CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. 



larger ones being quite as choice for fry- 

 ing when filleted. Frying, despite all edu- 

 cated effort to the contrary, continues the 

 popular method of cooking fish because 

 easy. Edwin L. Hedderly. 



YOSEMITE HATCHERY PRACTICALLY 

 ASSURED. 



For many years different persons have 

 suggested to the Fish and Game Com- 

 mission that a state hatchery be placed in 

 Yosemite Valley. On the earnest solicita- 

 tion of those interested, a careful investi- 

 gation of the situation was made by Com- 

 missioner Bosqui, W. H. Shebley, in 

 charge of fishculture, and Field Agent 

 E. W. Hunt. Convinced that proper 

 facilities were offered and that such a 



The state commission will be able to obtain 

 a lease for a term of years and sufficient 

 water rights to properly provide for a 

 hatchery. This same letter also suggests 

 the possibility of a new hatchery in the 

 Sequoia National Park. An investigation 

 is soon to be made to ascertain whether 

 this is feasible. 



GEESE DAMAGE CROPS NEAR 

 TULARE LAKE. 



The unusual conditions arising from the 

 lack of rain caused serious damage to the 

 crops in the vicinity of Tulare Lake dur- 

 ing February. Great numbers of geese 

 concentrated in this vicinity, fed in the 

 grainfields and destroyed the grain as it 

 appeared above the ground. After the 



Fig. 



50. Geese on loafing grounds near Pennington, Sutter County, California, February 2, 

 1918. Photograph by H. C. Bryant. 



hatchery would be of gi'eat educational 

 value in demonstrating the work of the 

 commission, plans were made for the im- 

 mediate installation of a suitable hatchery 

 plant. The site was even selected. Gov- 

 ernor Stephens, who happened to be in the 

 valley at the time of the investigation, 

 approved the plan. Supervisor Lewis of 

 the park has also been a strong advocate 

 of a Yosemite hatchery. 



After considerable delay arrangements 

 are now being consummated with the De- 

 partment of the Interior so that a fine 

 hatchery building will probably soon be 

 under way. At first it seemed that on 

 account of the plans of the Bureau of 

 Fisheries a hatchery built by the state 

 commission would be impossible. A letter 

 from Alexander Vogelsang, first assistant 

 secretary of the Department of the In- 

 terior, clears the situation and makes pro- 

 posals which should prove satisfactory. 



close of the season the geese became very 

 tame, and it was difiicult to herd them 

 from the fields. Ranchers appealed to the 

 State Council of Defense and to the Fish 

 and Game Commission with the result 

 that an investigation was instituted and 

 arrangements made so that crops could 

 be protected. 



During normal years these same birds 

 feed on native plants and grasses and 

 what little damage is done to grain is so 

 distributed over a wide area that no one 

 takes notice of it. This year the only 

 green feed in the vicinity was to be found 

 in the grainfields sprouted by irrigation. 



Existing conditions made the problem a 

 difficult one. Ranchers, urged to raise a 

 maximum crop of wheat, believed protec- 

 tive game laws prevented their protecting 

 crops. Of course the rights of the farmer 

 were immediately championed by towns- 

 people who thought they saw an oppor- 



