36 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. 



worthy fact that many of our citizens solicit from the dealers young 

 and immature fish, ranging from half a pound to one and a half pounds, 

 which they regard as a great delicacy. On the other hand, in their 

 native waters the small fish are not regarded with favor. In the whole- 

 sale markets in New York and other Eastern seaports where striped bass 

 are found, they are graded into three classes, known as pan, medium, 

 and boiling. The latter is the largest size, and invariably commands 

 twice the price per pound that obtains for the smaller or pan fish. The 

 anglers of our State have discovered the prime sporting qualities of this 

 fish, and their interest in consequence has become much aroused. They 

 ask that a close season be established for two or three months. Thu.« 

 it is seen that the views of the marketmen and of the sportsmen are 

 widely divergent. Between them w'e think there is a happy medium,, 

 and that is, to allow striped bass to be taken at all seasons of the year 

 and the three-pound limit maintained as at present. The size of mesh 

 that would of necessity be required to take one-pound fish would destroy 

 all others of less weight that get into the net. However much the fish- 

 ermen might try to respect the law, the mere weight of the catch would 

 crush to death those weighing from a few ounces up to a half pound. 

 This loss is serious when it is understood that these small fish have 

 already escaped most of the vicissitudes incident to their lives, and that 

 if not artificially destroyed they would in a few years attain a weight 

 of forty to fifty pounds. 



In the past four years a great many striped bass clubs have been 

 organized and there are thousands of our people who not only have 

 sport but are able to furnish their tables with a most desirable food fish. 

 On any Sunday or holiday thousands of these anglers may be found 

 along our bay shores and along the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers 

 as w^ell as their tributaries. Striped bass weighing twelve pounds have 

 been taken in the clear waters of Feather River above Oroville. They 

 are found in large numbers in the Tuolumne River above Modesto, in 

 the Merced River, and in the San Joaquin River they have been found 

 as far up stream as Pollasky. Naturally, as in all fishing, there are 

 days when the angler and the fish do not connect. Then the idea 

 occurs that perhaps too much liberty is allowed the net or market fish- 

 ermen. The anglers advocate a close season during the spawning season 

 of these fish. In our opinion this would be both unwise and unneces- 

 sary. Unwise because it would be an absolute impossibility to catch 

 salmon and not kill the large striped bass, ranging from 20 to 50 

 pounds, that are caught in the same net with the salmon. 



If a close season existed it would be an offense to sell or have striped 

 bass in one's possession. The fishermen would be compelled to throw 

 them away; thus their value as spawn producers and as a food supply 

 would he lost to the people. In fact, during such close season tons of 



