TWENTY-SIXTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 



The following review of the work of the Fish and (lame Commission 

 during the past l)ieniiial i)eriod shows llial it has l)e( n (inc df coiislaiitly 

 wideniiiu- I'an^'r in its activities, of increased results witli respect to 

 hatchery output and iiiiproveineiits, of liighei- scientific achievement 

 by our Commercial Fislieries Department, and a closer enforcement 

 of the fish and game laws l)y our j^atrol force. 



AVifh oni- increasing population, wliidi includes a considerable alien 

 element, and the almost universal use of the automobile, our respon- 

 sibilities have been vastly increased. 



^Most of the alien ehifis ari'ive here with but little regard for con- 

 servation laws, the result biMug that tliey are tlie chiefest offenders 

 to engage the attention of our patrol force. The use of the automobile 

 has given easy opportunity to hundreds of thousands to reach the 

 habitat of fish and game at any hour nf the day or night, which renders 

 detection of violation much more difficult. 



We believe there is no force of employees in any department of the 

 state who have shown more loyalty and faithfulness to their respective 

 tasks than can be found in the employees serving under this Com- 

 mission, regardless of the department in \\liicli they are employed. 



This Commission M'as fully and creditably represented in the great 

 war. Happily every man who was privileged to go, returned safely 

 and found his position open for him. Those who. from various causes, 

 were unable to contribute their services to their country, bore heavy 

 burdens uncomplainingly at home. This is the more remarkable 

 when it is remembered that in all the industries and every transpor- 

 tation line compensation had been almost doubled. Our employees 

 remained faithful to their work, with liut an insignificant salary 

 advance compared with -the much greater cost of living. This Com- 

 mission has therefore reason to feel proud of its loyal and devoted 

 workers. 



A special page is devoted to the list of those of our force who died 

 in our service during the past two years. 



Our Department of Fisheulture has at its head ^Ir. W. II. Shebley, 

 who has been identified with the fishcultural work of the California 

 Fish and Game Commission for upwards of thirty years, and who is 

 regarded as one of the ablest and most successful fishculturists in the 

 United States. Combined with his .practical judgment. Mr. Shebley 

 unites the results of his many years of experience and study of the 

 scientific side of all questions relating to fisheulture, with special ref- 

 erence to salmon and trout propagation, and has furnished a report on 

 the details of his work that is worthy of careful consideration. 



