72 



FISH AND nAME COMMISSION 



lem is becoming more acute in view of the present tendency to construct 

 high (lams at or nenr the floor of the valley. If construction of these 

 dams continues and no satisfactory way of passing fisli over or around 

 these dams is found a very marked cfTect will he experienced on the 

 amount of anadromous fish in this state. It may be that fish culture 

 methods may solve tlie problem but the burden on the state will be great. 



Fig. 21. Old type of individual oil sump with earth levees used in preventing 



oil pollution 



PREVENTION OF POLLUTION OF PUBLIC WATERS 



The apparent general public interest in this phase of the bureau's 

 activities is very evident and no doubt has a material bearing in effect- 

 ing improvements. The conservation agencies, press, and public are 

 aware of the dangers if pollution of public waters were permitted to 

 continue. We are concerned with pollution only in so far as it may be 

 deleterious to fish or plant life, but when that stage of cleanness and 

 purity of water exists so that fish and plant life thrive many indirect 

 results accrue to the general public, clean beaches and shore line being 

 very noticeable, especially in the summer season. 



The tendency'- of people, industries and cities is to pass the wastes 

 into creeks, rivers or ocean waters with little regard, if any, for the 

 consequences upon their neighbors or water-borne life. Only by con- 

 tinued education and reasonable application of the laws governing the 

 discharge of these wastes may improvement be effected. 



In the past biennium we have been, fortunate in receiving the con- 

 tinued cooperation of the oil industry in general, to the end that oil 

 pollution from shore operations has been reduced to a minimum, and 

 when accidental breaks occur, as will happen now and then, efforts are 



