Proceedings 93 



a constant patrol of the waters in which the striped bass are found and 

 taken by the fishermen. We have one large boat on the main bays here, 

 and two boats on the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, and we 

 add to them at times. We also detail our field men or game wardens, 

 to spend quite a lot of time along the streams. We have arrested 

 hundreds of fishermen for violating these laws because fishermen do 

 not always have our viewpoint. They think if the fish is in the water, 

 it ought to be killed. We have had deputies killed in the effort to 

 enforce these laws, but I think the laws we have at the present time 

 are wisely framed and they are being more and more closely observed 

 and rigidly enforced all the time by the Commission. 



Mr. Mailliard referred to the fact that the shad are not appreciated 

 in the State, although at times out in the country the people seem to 

 be wiser. The shad is not appreciated, so it is taken in large quanti- 

 ties at times when there is no demand for them and dumped on the 

 market. Great quantities are salted and shipped to China. We are 

 not making good use of the shad. The Commission has endeavored to 

 popularize this fish, but has had little success. We have endeavored 

 to convince our people on the coast that our shad is just about as 

 good, if not as good, as the eastern shad, but for some reason, in the 

 past at least, the public has not taken to the fish. We hope to bring 

 about a condition, though, in the near future, when the shad will be 

 appreciated just as the carp is going to be appreciated. 



What We Can Do to Promote Fish Conservation. 



By Charles Minor Blackford, M.D., Staunton, Va. 



(see Transactions, December, 1915, pages 13-18) . 



Read by President Fearing. 



Following the reading of this there was a prolonged 

 discussion as to the possibilities of broadening the scope 

 of the Transactions so as to admit of the publication 

 of short notes and news items, which was approved. 

 The quarterly publication, instead of the former annual 

 volume was considered a move in the right direction. 

 Also the plan of admitting papers for publication at any 

 time, without the formality of presenting them previ- 

 ously at an annual meeting, was considered favorably. 



Session adjourned. 



Friday, September 3, 1915. 

 President Fearing: Gentlemen, I wish to state that 

 there is a report from Mr. H. Wheeler Perce, Chairman 

 of the Publicity Committee, which did not reach me until 



