TWENTY-SEVENTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 19 



DEMAND FOR TROUT FRY EXCEEDS HATCHERY RESOURCES. 



Easy access to the streams and lakes afforded by the improved high- 

 ways and the increasing use of automobiles, and the added thousands of 

 people who are availing' themselves of the opportunity to fish, are fac- 

 tors that have combined to make an ever-increasing demand on oiir 

 hatcheries for fish for restocking. Each season sees a marked increase in 

 the number of people who seek recreation in our mountainous districts, 

 and the consequent drain on the trout in lakes and streams has been 

 very great, particidarly during the past five years. 



The demand from sportsmen throughout the state is for many car- 

 loads of fry when only a few cars can properly be allotted. Application 

 blanks for 1922 show demand for 100,000.000 fry when a quarter of 

 that number were available as a result of extra effort. 



To meet the need, the department of fishculture has exhausted its 

 resources. Every available dollar has been devoted to fishcultural work, 

 and yet the demand increases. 



Only a partial solution is possible as a result of the reduction of the 

 bag limit from fifty to twenty-five. It may be that a shortei- fishing sea- 

 son will have to follow in order that depleted streams and lakes may l)e 

 afforded a chance to recover their former condition. 



Every state in the Union where there is game fish to be found is con- 

 fronted by the same problem. In most cases the condition is being met 

 by an increased angling license to provide more funds for enlarging the 

 output of the hatcheries. This is the remedial measure being suggested 

 by anglers throughout the state. 



ENFORCEMENT OF FISHWAY LAW DIFFICULT. 



One of the serious problems of the Fish and Game Commission is that 

 connected with the enforcement of the law which provides for the 

 screening of irrigation ditches. In many counties the Commission has 

 made persistent eft'orts to prosecute violators of the law, but with poor 

 success, owing to the attitude of the district attorney. In order to bring 

 about better cooperation in the enforcement of this important law a 

 new policy has been decided upon. Hereafter, the output from the 

 hatcheries will be allotted to those counties which are enforcing the 

 screen law, and those providing suitable protection for the fish planted 

 in the streams. It seems only reasonable that this course be taken to ])re- 

 vent serious loss of the fish which are reared at considerable expen.se in 

 the state hatcheries. 



GRAZING ENDANGERS FEED CONDITIONS IN GAME REFUGES. 



A visit to many of the state game refuges will show that game is not 

 receiving adequate protection, due to the destruction of food supply by 

 cattle and sheep. Food supply is one of the most im])ortant factors con- 

 cerned in the welfare of any species and the grazing of cattle and sheep 

 in the refuge means a lessened food supply for game. Those conversant 

 with conditions maintain that the disappearance of grouse in the higher 

 mountains is due largely to the pasturing of sheej). Sheep are taken to 

 the high mountain meadows at .pist tlie time when the grouse are nesting 

 and the nests are tr-ampled out and the grass cropped so clean that even 

 the food supply for these birds is largely destroyed. 



