TWENTY-SEVENTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 03 



RESEARCH. 



Unfortunately, tlie time of your director has l)een so fully occui)iei.l 

 that it has heen possible to undertake less and less actual researcli work. 

 This is unfortunate and it is to be hoped that certain research work, 

 already planned, can be undertaken in the near future. Fisheries 

 research work is well supported and game research should have its 

 share of attention in addition. 



Work has continued on the investigation of the food of ducks in 

 California. The results of stomach examination of hundreds of ducks 

 ha,s been tabulated and summarized and additional analyses made. 



Further studies of methods of identifying nnd the food habits of 

 hawks culminated in the publication of an article on California 

 hawks in the July. 1921, number of California Fisn and Game. Con- 

 siderable material relative to game has been added to the regular tiles 

 kept for holding this material. A study of game conditions witliin a 

 protected area has been afforded in the past two summers' stay in 

 Yosemite National Park. The effects of total protection can nowhere 

 be studied to better advantage than in this national park. 



The department continues to compile data on the annual deer kill, on 

 hunting accidents and on the work of the scientific collector. 

 Respectfully submitted. 



(Signed) Harold C. Bryant, 

 In Charge, 

 Education. PuhJicity and Eescnvch. 



WATER POLLUTION. 



Honorable Board of Fish and Game Commissioners. 



Gentlemen: Complaints of water pollution have been fewer dur- 

 ing the past biennial period than ever before during a like period. 

 This is, no doubt, due largely to the fact that manufacturers have at 

 last realized that prevention is better, (and more profital)le), than cur(\ 



Complaints were filed and convictions obtained against the North- 

 western Pacific Railroad, the Shipping Board Steamer Eastern i^ailo'' 

 and the tanker Buccimim, (under charter to the Shell Oil Company). 



A complaint was also filed against the Sacramento Gas Company for 

 lampblack pollution of the Sacramento River. This company at once 

 began construction of a filter of sufficient size to handle all their waste 

 waters and thus preclude the possibility of further cause for comiilaiiit 

 and this filter is, at the present time, in successful operation. 



A number of accidental losses of oil occurred during the pci-iod ic.siiit- 

 ing, fortunately, in a minimum of damage to fish life. 



The largest amount of oil thus lost was caused by the eartliqiuikc of 

 ^March tenth which ruptured the pipe lines of the Union Oil ('omi)any 

 where they crossed headwaters of the Salinas River. F1o(h1 waters car- 

 ried all, fso far as can be ascertained), of tin- oil to Monterey Bay with- 

 out depo.siting it either upon the river banks or the shore of the bay. 

 The amount of crude oil lost was 2,500 barrels. 



