REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. 15 



Avhich was embodied in the biennial report of our predecessors for the 

 years 1888 and 1890, and which we republish: 



Baird, Cal., July 8, 1890. 

 3/r. .T. G. Woodbury, San Francisco: 



Dear Mr. Woodbury: Yours of the 5th at hand. Two years of experience in charge 

 of this station on the McCloud has convinced me that unless some action is taken by the 

 Legislature and those interested in tlie propagation of salmon as a food fish, to include 

 the month of August as well as that of September in the close season, not many years 

 will elapse when this valuable food fish will become almost extinct. 



On account of the high water we are liable to have at this point during the spring and 

 late fall runs, it is impracticable to secure and spawn by artificial methods the parent 

 tish; but the August run comes at a time when it can be handled successfully. In order 

 to allow this run to reach the headwaters of the Sacramento River, and its tributaries, 

 the months of August and September should be reserved to allow a free passage of 

 salmon. 



I draw my conclusions from the fact that in previous years, when there was no fishing 

 with seines in the Sacramento to speak of, thousands of salmon collected here during 

 the latter part of August and during the month of September, and we found no difficulty 

 in securing all the eggs we could handle, 14,000,000 ova having been taken in one season. 

 ]''rom the August run in 1888 but 1,568600 were secured, and in 1889, 1,105,000 were taken. 

 In 1888 the season's take was increased to 5,584,600, by securing ova from the late run in 

 ( »ctober and November. But this was something unusual, and could not have been 

 accomplished had it not been that the rains did not set in until December of that year. 

 An attempt was made in 1889 to take the late run, but rains in October caused the Mc- 

 ('loud to become very high, and racks and dams were washed out, allowing the parent 

 fish to ascend the river and small creeks above the station. 



It is very hard to decide how long it takes the salmon to reach their spawning grounds 

 after they leave the seining grounds of the lower Sacramento, but as near as we can tell, 

 from two to three weeks. 



As you know, the work done at this station is almost entirely for the State. It seems 

 as if it should be the aim of the people to do all in their power to aid the United States 

 Fish Commission to accomi^lish its object by making laws that will protect this valuable 

 food fish. 



Much more could be gaid regarding the tremendous decrease in late years of the sal- 

 mon, but I think I have advanced sufficient reasons to show that a longer close season 

 is necessary to make a success of our work. It is a question that should be seriously 

 considered and acted upon at once. 

 Yours truly, 



GEO. B. WILLIAMS, Jr., 

 Superintendent of Station. 



Section 635 of the Penal Code should be amended so as to make it a 

 misdemeanor to dump shavings into waters. 



Fifth — Your attention is called to Section 636 of the Penal Code. 

 As it now reads it is meaningless. The word " fish " in some manner 

 was omitted. 



The last section referred to should also be amended so that the 

 ])Ossession of the young of any fish, either fresh or dried, be made a 

 misdemeanor. 



The same section should be further amended by eliminating there- 

 from the words " except Brook trout." 



Sixth — The Board of Fish Commissioners should be given the right 

 at any time to take any kind of game for propagating purposes. 



Seventh — There should be legislation requiring ditch owners to place 

 wire screens at the entrance of the ditches. 



Eighth — We beg to call your attention to the fact that game birds 

 are being introduced into this State from other countries, such as 

 ]>heasants and wild turkeys. The Legislature should make it a misde- 

 meanor to hunt, take, or have in possession any of this game for some 

 l)eriod of time, say four years. 



Ninth — An increase in the appropriation for the Hatchery Depart- 

 ment from $5,000 per annum to $10,000 per annum. 



Tenth — We recommend that a tax of 4 cents per case be placed and 

 collected upon canned salmon. This Commission is hatching and 



