REPORT OF STATE BOARD OP FISH COMMISSIONERS. 7 



oftenders. The deputies making the arrest have to be present at the 

 trial. This, coupled with the customary delays of legal procedure, 

 demands a great deal of time, and often prevents our employes from 

 doing important service in other directions. Only by a sufficient appro- 

 priation can the Commissioners hope to even partially fultill the duties 

 which are prescribed to them in this behalf under the law. 



The exclusive attention of our deputies has been given to the Patrol 

 Department ever since their appointment. We beg to express to you 

 our satisfaction in what has been accomplished in this matter of the 

 prevention of the sale of fish and game in the markets, and especially 

 with the results which has been accomplished in the prevention of the 

 dumping of sawdust into the Sacramento, Truckee, and other rivers 

 and streams, and also in the establishment and maintenance of fish 

 ladders in the Truckee River and other places. Our most difficult labor 

 has been found in the neighborhood of the bay of San Francisco, and in 

 the Sacramento River. We believe that we have accomplished all that 

 our funds would permit us to do. Your attention is called to the fact 

 that the shore line of the bay and the Sacramento River alone covers 

 a distance of more than two hundred and fifty miles. The fishing 

 business is carried on and conducted at all points on the Sacramento 

 River, from the city of Sacramento to the mouth of the river, and all 

 points on the bay. As above suggested, the sum of $5,000 is absolutely 

 inadequate, if devoted exclusively to this department, to accomplish 

 much active results. The sum of $20,000 would permit the Commission 

 to not merely threaten the arrest of the violators of the fish laws by 

 infrequent visits, but, on the contrary, to accomplish their arrest and 

 conviction in every instance. 



LICENSES. 



The Commission early appreciated that the matter of the collection 

 of licenses, owing to the small amount appropriated for the benefit of 

 the Commission by the Legislature, was an important matter, and if 

 properly and successfully conducted, would add materially to the funds 

 of the Commission. Under the law requiring all persons engaged in 

 the avocation of fishing, with boat and net, to pay a license, the Com- 

 mission is authorized to pay to the collector of licenses a percentage 

 upon the amount of his collections, namely, 15 per cent. 



So far as the city of San Francisco is concerned, there is no doubt but 

 what the compensation, so provided, is fair in proportion to the services 

 performed; but when it is considered that all the expenses of collection 

 have to be borne by the collector, such compensation, for collections 

 outside of the City and County of San Francisco, is entirely inadequate. 

 In other words, the percentage thus provided for would not pay 

 expenses, particularly so on account of long distances. 



In most of the bays, rivers, and harbors outside of the city of San 

 Francisco, the number of men engaged in the avocation of fishing is 

 comparatively small — ras, for instance, in Humboldt Bay, Tomales Bay, 

 Monterey Bay, and San Diego Bay. Appreciating this condition of 

 affairs, the Board concluded to appoint a deputy with a fixed monthly 

 salary, whose principal duty should be to collect licenses. 



It was early learned that no provision had heretofore been made for 

 ascertaining or locating the various individuals throughout the different 

 portions of the State who were engaged in the occupation of fishing. 



