52 REPORT OF THE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



that is that part of Section 629 and 637 relating to hearings. "We 

 would suggest that whenever there is a difference of opinion between 

 this Department and the owners of a ditch, pumping plant, canal or 

 dam, regarding the advisability of installing either a fishway or a 

 screen, that the case be taken directly to the Superior Court, which is 

 the proper ti'ibunal to determine whether the ditch, canal or intake 

 should 1)e screened, or a fishway constructed. 



In our judgment the hearings held by our Commission under the 

 present law are not satisfactory. Before ordering anyone to install a 

 screen or fishway, we make an investigation and satisfy ourselves of the 

 necessity of the expense. Therefore, we deem it a waste of time and 

 money to hold hearings before one of our employees to satisfy the 

 demand of some one for a hearing. If any of the owners of ditches, 

 canals or dams are not satisfied or question the necessity of installing a 

 screen or fishway on their particular property, they have their redress 

 in the courts, where all such cases will eventually end, if the persons on 

 whom legal notices have been served resist the orders to install screens 

 and fishways. 



There never was a time in the history of our state when legislation 

 to conserve our fish by the installation of proper screens and fishways 

 is needed more than at the present time, owing to the great amount of 

 water that is being diverted for agricultural and industrial purposes. 

 The fish can be saved without material injury or damage to the hydro- 

 electric plants and the irrigationists if proper and stringent laws are 

 passed and enforced, as all plans for fishways and screens are prac- 

 ticable and efficient. 



In some instances we have found the district attorneys were not in 

 favor of prosecution for violations of these laws, but it was generally 

 found to be a matter of politics more than any just reason for not 

 standing by the rights of the people. 



The fish of the inland waters, both food and game species, are one 

 of our most valuable assets and everyone concerned in the progress of 

 our state should assist in protecting and conserving them. 



PLANTING FOOD FOR TROUT. 

 In some of the lakes of the southern High Sierra and in the Tahoe 

 Basin, attempts to introduce aquatic insects where the waters were 

 barren of certain species have been made. The large Corydalis, or 

 salmon fly, has been introduced into several streams running into Lake 

 Tahoe, during the last two seasons and our foreman reports that they 

 are thriving. In the lakes of the southern High Sierra where all kinds 

 of insect food is secured aquatic plants and the scuds or gammarus have 

 been planted. We have not received any reports regarding the success 



