REPORT OF THE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 115 



was given the companies through their attorneys, they demanded 

 a hearing, as provided by the statute passed by the legislature in 1915. 

 Hearings were held in Fresno during January of this year. The 

 testimony showed that great numbers of fish found their way through 

 the canals and were destroyed. Upon the evidence introduced at 

 this hearing, the commission ordered the companies to in-stall screens 

 in the Fresno ditch, Riverdale ditch, Kings River ditch, the Fresno 

 Canal Company's ditch. Consolidated Canal Company's ditch and the 

 Fresno Canal and Irrigation Company's canal. The companies failed 

 to conform with this order and complaints were sworn to in the 

 Justice's Court of Fresno County, and are now pending. 



Numerous hearings have been held under the provisions of the 

 sections of the code relating to screens and fish ladders. In the 

 majority of instances entirely satisfactory conclusions have been 

 reached without it being necessary to resort to the courts. 



In March, 1915, John C. Bobbins, of Tehama County, an unsalaried 

 deputy of the Fish and Game Commission, was arrested by Forest 

 Ranger Harvey Abbey for killing deer during the closed season. 

 Robbins demanded a jury trial, but was convicted and fined $150 by 

 Justice Lennon of Red Bluff. The District Court of Appeals was 

 asked for a writ of habeas corpus questioning the validity of the 

 judgment of the Justice. The writ was denied and the judgment 

 of the Justice's Court affirmed. 



In April, 1915, Fred W. Robins, another unsalaried deputy, living 

 in Santa Clara County, was arrested for angling without a license. 

 He demanded a jury trial before Justice Simpson of Almaden ; was 

 convicted and sentenced to a fine of $50 and to serve ten days in 

 jail. He appealed to the Superior Court, but this higher court affirmed 

 the judgment of the lower court. 



From time to time in the past it has been reported to the Fish and 

 Game Commission that considerable numbers of striped bass were 

 being shipped to various points outside of the state, in violation of the 

 state law prohibiting the export of striped bass. In March, 1916, very 

 reliable information was received and one of the deputies of the 

 Fish and Game Commission was sent to Salt Lake to make an investi- 

 gation. As a result of his investigations, A. Paladini was arrested 

 on a number of charges and w^as convicted in the Police Courts of 

 San Francisco, being fined $100. An appeal was taken and the case 

 is still pending. At the same time a number of other charges were 

 filed against Paladini. These are being held subject to the appeal 

 in the case mentioned. 



In November, 1914, Deputy George J. Rodolph, while engaged in 

 patrol duties in the vicinity of Los Banos, attempted to arrest Len 



