REPORT OF THE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 99 



the best equipped and managed free camp in the state and many letters 

 of commendation of tlie management have been received. The expenses 

 of operation of the caniji ari" maintained by tlii- Inintiiifr and anfrling 

 licon.sc fund. 



SUMMARY OF GAME CONDITIONS. 

 Game Fishes. 



'llu' drought has liad a must detrimental effect on game fishes, espo- 

 (•iall\- trout. ^lany of the mountain streams went entirely dry in early 

 July and August, streams that in the history of the state were never 

 known to be absolutely dry. We believe the open season is entirely too 

 long. If tlie present demand upon our streams continues to expand and 

 no provision is made to meet that demand either by reducing the length 

 of the open season or the bag limit, it will l)c but a few years until our 

 smaller streams are entirely depleted except by the small fry annually 

 ])lanted. A large amount of fish reclamation will be necessary this fall, 

 both in the valley and mountains. 



The fishes introduced by our Commission from other states, such as 

 striped and black bass, crappie and sunfishes, are now widely dis- 

 tributed and furnish an al)uudance of sport and food for the popula- 

 tion of the valleys and interior. The striped bass have penetrated into 

 the upper Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and their tributaries, 

 and in their seasonal runs furnish sport and food for many anglers on 

 week-end outings, who otherwise cannot take annual vacations else- 

 v/here. 



Deer. 



Every county in the district contains deer in some number.s. ]\Iany 

 are killed within a few miles of the Capital City. There has been a most 

 l)henomenal increase in the last years of this splendid game animal. 

 The Hayfork Valley lookout from his ranger station counted 170 deer 

 on July '-U. The Bally ^Mountain lookout reported having counted 1170 

 deer during the month of July. The relentless war waged by our Com- 

 mission on the mountain linn, and the increase in the warden service, 

 which has rediveed the winter killing, is no doubt partly responsible for 

 til is wonderful increase. Especially is this true in connectio]i with the 

 Lava Bed country of Modoc Count}', where mule deer abound. 



Mountain Quail. 



.Mountain «|uail have also shown a wonderful increase since our last 

 report, probably due to the very limited fall of snow in the last few 

 years in tlie areas in wliicli these birds winter, and the vigilance of the 

 district wardens. In 1915 and 1916, this species was all but destroyed 

 by freezing and starvation in the counties of Shasta, Tehama, Lassen, 



