THIRTY-SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT 39 



some reasonable degree of balance. Conservationists should be pleased 

 to know that the men charged with the responsibility of proper sewage 

 disposal are aware of the problem, but no appreciable improvements 

 are possible until the public becomes more informed on the subject and 

 realizes the necessity of proper treatment of sewage to the end that 

 the public waters Taay be made and kept habitable for fish life. Reli- 

 able estimates indicate that untreated sewage from a population of 

 5,000,000 people will enter our ocean waters by 1940 unless sewage 

 treatment is greatly accelerated over that experienced to date. 



The increased activity in mining has brought many inquiries as to 

 the requirements of this Commission with respect to pollution by 

 miners. When consideration is given to pollution problems by the 

 miner it is found that the remedies usually are fairly simple. Every 

 effort is made to be helpful by the bureau so that reasonable methods 

 may be applied and be of the least inconvenience to the operator. 



The bureau is pleased to report that the pollution work goes for- 

 ward and improvements are effected by means of conferences and 

 agreements rather than by invoking legal action. Legal action is 

 resorted to when it is believed the pollution results from wilful or 

 careless acts, or failures to heed suggestions offered for the prevention 

 of pollution. In the biennium 29 cases have necessitated court action. 

 Of this number, 23 were for oil pollution, three were for pollution 

 from mines and three for miscellaneous causes. About 10 of the oil 

 pollution cases were from the Venice oil field. The few legal actions 

 required to prevent oil pollution demonstrates the sincere cooperation 

 received from the oil industry. This is especially significant when it 

 is realized that our State is one of the three leading oil producing 

 states of the Union. 



The bureau's work is closely identified with the diversion and use 

 of water in the State. It is not to be expected but that the waters of 

 the State will and must be utilized to the fullest if the State is to 

 prosper. The use of the water need not necessarily diminish fish life 

 though that is what has happened in all too many instances. 



When a dam is constructed even if of too great height for success- 

 ful fishway operation other methods may be employed by the owner to 

 compensate for the obstruction offered to migrating fish. 



The diversion of water by means of ditches, pumps, syphons and 

 other means will cause only a slight loss of fish life if there is any 

 desire on the part of the owner to comply with the law, and install a 

 proper fish screen. Such compliance requires no great expenditure 

 and does not deprive the owner of the water. 



The continued and increased uses of water makes necessary 

 improved methods of pollution treatment of the trade wastes normally 

 passed into the stream. The dilution factor is generally getting less 

 together with an increase in the industries with their wastes. 



Actual cooperation is needed to meet these problems and legal 

 processes should be simplified. It appears that with respect to the 

 fish screen and fishway acts, the owners of dams and ditches are pro- 

 tected much beyond the people of the State. When it is considered 

 that the owners create the problem and receive the benefits, the burden 

 of proof should not be unduly onerous on the State. 



