92 American Fisheries Society 



started to experiment with them. I do not know what was the reason, 

 unless the bass had not become well established in its habits, at the time 

 the propagation was decided upon. Nearly all of the mature or spawn 

 bass were coming from the neighborhood of Bouldin Island, on the 

 San Joaquin River. The fishermen caught large numbers of these 

 spawn bass, a great many of which appeared to be in a ripe con- 

 dition, so a hatchery was established there. The first season they had 

 very remjarkable success and hatched several million fry. But after 

 that year the bass got fewer and fewer at San Joaquin, and started 

 to run at spawning time up the Sacramento. This still continues, very 

 few going up the San Joaquin at the present time. In all the work 

 that has been done, we have never discovered the spawning places 

 of the striped bass in either the San Joaquin or the Sacramento River. 



Mr. Schaeffle, of California: Mr. President, I would like to add a 

 couple of practical comments relative to striped bass. This is now 

 one of the three most important fishes in California. I rather take 

 issue with our President when he says that we do not appreciate the 

 striped bass, because I think the people do appreciate it very well; 

 in fact, the people of the west, a few years ago decided to shut down 

 the bars, and keep them home. Every state in the west — I do not know 

 how far east — was drawing on us for their striped bass. In addition 

 to the non-export law that we have had, I think about six years, we 

 have had closed seasons. We have had a closed season of Saturday 

 and Sunday on striped bass, shad and salmon for a great many years. 

 As an experiment, a few years ago, a closed season was made in the 

 spring, during what was then supposed to be the spawning season of 

 the striped bass. That law would have worked splendidly, but unfor- 

 tunately, wth the run of spawning bass in the spring, we have a run 

 of salmon and a run of shad. The fish are caught in the same net. 

 The law intended to protect one is inoperative, because in fishing for 

 one of the other varieties, striped bass are caught and killed. That law 

 was taken off at that time, and at the last session of the legislature, a 

 law was introduced, but not passed, to make a closed season in the 

 spring on salmon. 



We have also had a number of other laws for the protection of the 

 striped bass. We limit the size of mesh that can be used for taking 

 the bass, with the idea of protecting the small fish under spawning 

 size. 



We regulate the kinds of nets that can be used for taking bass. 

 For a great many years we have not allowed the set net. We have 

 no traps in the waters. We have a law now that prohibits even the use 

 of small mesh nets, that may be hauled on the beaches. This last legis- 

 lature passed a very radical act at the recommendation of Mr. Scofield, 

 of the Pish and Game Commission, under which the small sloughs and 

 probable breeding grounds of the striped bass will be kept absolutely 

 free from all kinds of nets. The main waters, say in the main Sac- 

 ramento and San Joaquin Rivers, are open to the fishermen with nets. 

 The side sloughs on the main portions of the river are closed. We feel 

 that this will protect the spawning beds, and the young fish after they 

 leave the spawning beds, and as they work down into the bays. I 

 would like to say to that, in addition to having all these laws, the 

 Commission has strenuously endeavored, for a great many years, to 

 see that every one of these laws is religiously observed. We maintain 



