REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. 17 



The collections of licenses from fishermen who use a boat 

 LICENSES, and net have been made by the patrol department, and a 

 statement showing the amount collected and the number 

 and classes issued will be found in the Appendix. 



To the enforcement of the fishery laws upon Russian River 



RUSSIAN we have given much attention, and in the winter, months, 



RIVER. during the run of steelheads, we have maintained a day 



and night patrol of that part of Russian River where nets 



can be used. The laws have been effectually enforced and the patrol 



made numerous arrests. Many set-nets have been taken from the river, 



whose owners were either unknown or against whom legal proof could 



not be established. These nets were surrendered to the keeping of the 



Justices before whom complaints were made. 



A patrol of the trout streams has been maintained during 

 TROUT the close season, especially of those nearest San Francisco, 

 STREAMS, which are oftenest visited by poachers, resulting in the 

 practical stopping of illegal fishing. As a result of patrol- 

 ing one stream for a few days and then transferring our deputy to another, 

 we have effectually covered much territory, and kept the streanis free from 

 poachers by reason of the uncertainty of the movements of the patrol. 

 We have used every effort and taken every opportunity to 

 EXPLOSIVES, break up the pernicious habit of killing fish with ex- 

 plosives, and are glad to say that we have, in one or two 

 instances, succeeded in punishing the guilty parties. It is but seldom 

 that the transgressor can be caught, as he does not use the explosive 

 save when he thinks himself unobserved, and it takes him but a few 

 minutes to remove every evidence which would in any way incriminate 

 him, although the result of his guilty actions are apparent on every hand, 

 and the destruction wrought by his dastardly act is not soon repaired. 

 In an endeavor to enforce the law prohibiting the use 

 BIG GUNS, of shotguns of larger caliber than ten-gauge, We kept a 

 deputy in the field in the San Joaquin Valley during the 

 greater part of the shooting season of 1895-96. He made several arrests, 

 but secured but one conviction, though he was heartily supported by 

 the District Attorney of Merced County. We are satisfied, however, that 

 his presence in this section had a good effect on the pot-hunters, and to 

 a great extent stopped the use of big guns. 



Many new ladders have been built upon dams throughout 



FISH- the State, and we have made it our constant care to see 



LADDERS, that all ladders have been kept in repair and open for 



the passage, of fish. 

 The construction of a suitable fish-ladder upon the dam of the Folsom 

 Water Power Company at Folsom was completed in April, 1896. It is 



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