20 



PISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



GAME CONDITIONS. 



At the last legislature the bill providing for a deer license and a one 

 buck limit which was proposed as a means of giving better protection 

 for deer failed of passage by reason of the belief that the money 

 would revert to the general treasury instead of to the fish and game 

 preservation fund. This legislation must eventually come if we give 

 the one large species of game mammal left in the state, in sufficient 

 numbers for hunting, proper protection. The mule deer of the lava 

 beds in Modoc County particularly need protection as the toll now 

 being taken is altogether too large. 



An unusual problem presented itself during the winter of 1923 when 

 large numbers of deer met death by falling into a cement power ditch 

 on the American River near Placerville. Immediate action was taken 

 with the result that more than 500 deer were safely rescued from 

 the ditch and bridges allowed the safe crossing of more than 2800 

 others — all on a front of seven miles. The "Western States Gas and 

 Electric Company, owners of the ditch, cooperated in rescuing the 

 deer and a fence which has been installed will prevent a similar 

 occurrence another year. 



Fig. 6. Lower Klamath Lake as it appeared in the siirmg 

 of 1924, once a federal bird reservation and Cali- 

 fornia's most extensive waterfowl breeding ground. Due 

 to unwise drainage it is now but an alkali waste. 

 Photograph by Blanche Shaw. 



The closing of the season on tree squirrels by the 1923 legislature 

 proved a benefit to a species greatly reduced in numbers by a serious 

 epidemic of disease. A continuation of the . closed season beyond the 

 September, 1925, date would doubtless be advantageous. 



Wildfowl conditions continue favnral)1e. If ])reeding and feeding 

 grounds can l)e maintained by developing an unfavorable sentiment 

 toward the endless drainage projects the future looks bright. 



FISH CONDITIONS. 



The spring and summer of 1924' proved so dry that there was a 

 consequent destruction of fish. Many streams that normally have 

 plenty of water to support fish life dried up entirely, with resulting 

 destruction of all fish life in them. Deputy fish and game commis- 



i 



