REPORT OP THE PISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 91 



hunters that go after deer during the open season, but it is safe to say- 

 there are not less than 50,000. That there are deer for these men to 

 hunt is due to the fact that California is a natural deer state. There is 

 an abundance of wild brush-covered lands and we also have had laws 

 that gave protection and were enforced. In 1905, the present law allow- 

 ing the killing of two bucks per season was passed. Previous to that 

 time the limit had been three. Since 1905, the population of the state 

 has increased by approximately one million. Naturally the hunters have 

 increased and the facilities for getting into the deer country have in- 

 creased more than 100 per cent, with the development of the automobile. 

 During this time the deer cover has been greatly reduced and the deer 

 are having more and more difficulty in keeping out of the way of the 

 liunters. It is extremely prol)able that within a very short time a one- 

 buck law will have to be put in force. 



There is still an impression among sportsmen that it would be well 

 to allow the killing of deer of both sexes. The old story of too many 

 barren does is the excuse. There are men who claim that they can tell a 

 barren dee by the color of the hair, and from other characteristics. We 

 have never met a man \\ lio on sight could tell a barren domestic animal, 

 animals with which we are most familiar. How anyone can claim ability 

 to tell fi'oin the fleeting glimpse that they may have of the deer that the 

 animal is barren, is beyond under.standing. It is certain that any law 

 allowing the killing of does would be the one big step toward exter- 

 mination. New York state recently had an experience from which every 

 state in the Union can take lesson. Under extreme pressure the legisla- 

 ture was induced to change the law so as to allows the killing of one 

 (leer of either sex. This law remained in effect for one season and it has 

 been sliown tliat out of an estimated number of 50,000 deer in that state, 

 iiiorc than 20,000 were killed, and 1:^,000 of these were does. Fully one- 

 lialf of the breeding stock wiped out in a single season. Tliink what 

 would happen in California during two seasons. It is certain that no 

 quicker way could be devised to exterminate the deer than by legalizing 

 the killing of does. 



ANGLING CONDITIONS. 

 The several dry seasons have raised havoc with trout fishing through- 

 out the State. In the Coast region many streams that ordinarily carry 

 a heavy flow of water were reduced to a mere trickle. In others there 

 was no flow at all. The scant rainfall has also made it exceedingly 

 difficult to obtain the usual number of eggs. This has greatly reduced 

 the output of our hatcheries. With the return to normal rainfall it will 

 be necessary for the hatchery department to work overtime in order 



