REPORT OP THE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 53 



of this work as yet. It may be that the aquatic plants will need to be 

 well established before the success of this work is assured. 



It is the plan of this department to take up this work systematically 

 during? the next season and stock with insects and aquatic plants certain 

 lakes that need an added stock of natural food. Examinations will 

 be made to determine the larvae of the different species that abound in 

 the lakes that seem to require an added amount of natural food and 

 new species will be introduced wherever the conditions .justify the 

 expense. This is an important work and should be carried on system- 

 atically each season so that tlie best results may be attained. 



COOPERATION WITH THE WATER COMMISSION, 



We respectfully recommend that an act lie passed by the coming 

 session of the Legislature that will arrange for the coordination and 

 cooperation of the Water Commission with the Fish and Game Commis- 

 sion in regard to appropriated waters. It should be understood and 

 agreed that the fish in certain streams of the state be allowed water 

 enough to survive during the minimum flow of late summer and fall. 



The State Water Commission should be authorized to force all appli- 

 cants for water appropriations to comply with the law regarding fish- 

 ways before accepting any plans for diversion of the water. The 

 applicant for water rights should have the plan of the fishway made 

 and approved by the Fish and Game Commission strictly in conformity 

 Avitli the law before granting applicants the right to appropriate water 

 from any river or stream. 



The rights of the people should be safe-guarded as far as possible 

 when not detrimental to greater interests. No stream should be entirely 

 diverted without some effort being made to protect the rights of the peo- 

 ple. There are cases now where the entire flow of water has been taken 

 without any consideration for the fish life in the stream. The valuable 

 food and game fishes of California should be protected as well as all 

 other interests and it can be done without injury to the hydro-electric 

 plants or the irrigationists, if the AVater Commission and the Fish and 

 Game Commission cooperate in the plans of allowing sufficient water 

 to pass the dams on the larger streams during the period of minimum 

 flow as well as to see that plans for efficient fishways are made by the 

 Fish and Game Commission before the appropriations are granted. 



A great many other recommendations will be made during the session 

 of the Legislature regarding changes in the trout and salmon seasons, 

 and means of strengthening by amending some of our present laws 

 regarding other subjects. 



Respectfully submitted. 



(Signed) W. H. Shebley, 

 In Charge, Department of Fishculture. 



