30 PISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



There is practically no tillable land where the waters of this stream 

 could be used for irrigation. All the small areas of tillable land along 

 this river could be irrigated by tributary streams. Applications have 

 been made to construct large dams on this river for the purpose of 

 developing hydro-electric energy. As there is enough water appropri- 

 ated in the other river systen>s of California to furnish electric power 

 for the development of the state for many years to come without 

 destroying the salmon and other anadromous fishes of the Klamath 

 River by the construction of dams impassable by these fish, the con- 

 struction of high dams in the Klamath River should not be permitted. 



We feel positive, from our investigations and knowledge of the habits 

 of the salmon, that the king salmon {Oncorliynclius tcliawytscha) and 

 the silver salmon (0. hisutdi) will not ascend a fishway over a dam 

 where the elevation is over thirty or thirty-five feet. Our experience in 

 this state, and the experience of the experts of the Bureau of Fisheries 

 and fishculturists in Oregon and Washington, confirm this statement. 



There is a great protest being made by the people of Oregon and 

 the Bureau of Fisheries against the construction of a dam ninety feet 

 in height across Priest Rapids on the Columbia River, which confirms 

 our opinion stronger than ever, tliat where the people have a stream of 

 such value as the Columbia or Klamath rivers, no high dams should ever 

 be allowed to be constructed if the fishing interests are to be considered. 

 The people are entitled to at least one stream in each state from which 

 they can collect an adequate supply of both salmon and trout eggs to 

 supply the depleted waters of other regions. 



The statement made that the Fish and Game Commission is retarding 

 the industrial growth and development of the state by opposing these 

 high dams is, in our judgment, not a fact, as there is sufficient energy 

 being developed in other streams of California, where it is possible to 

 construct power plants, to furnish the entire northwestern part of the 

 state without embarrassing the development of that region or any other 

 portion of California. 



FISH PROPAGATION. 



Applicants, without exception, are reporting fine results from pre- 

 vious plantings of fry and are continuing making applications from 

 year to year, thus keeping the streams as well stocked as the conditions 

 will permit where the fishing is so excessive as it has been for the last 

 few years. Tlie zeal and enthusiasm shown by the applicants who, 

 year after year make applications to stock their favorite streams and 

 lakes, is evidence of the intense interest in the fishcultural work in this 

 state. The growing interest in the propagation and planting of trout 

 fry is the result of good returns that we are producing by the coopera- 

 tion of the persons planting fish for the Fish and Game Commission. 



Tlie distril)uti()ii of trout fry by the sportsmen's clubs, boards of 

 supervisors, and other interested parties, continues with the same 

 entTiusiasm as in former years. The public spirited citizens in the 

 different communities have devoted their energy and furnished their 

 ]a])()r ill seeing tliat the trout fr.y are pro])erly distributed. Each sea- 

 son we find better i-esults of this cooperation as the persons interested 

 in trout planting become more familiar with the proper distribution 

 of the fry. 



